| Agriculture and Rural Development |
| Animal Biosciences Research Facility |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$16,000,000 |
Agriculture is the largest basic industry in the Montana economy and the livestock industry is its largest segment. The progressive evolution of animal and range sciences has generated increasingly complex opportunities for research, teaching and outreach. The proposed research facility will use the bovine genome sequence to identify ways to improve economic and environmental sustainability in the production of safe, high quality and consistent beef products by: identifying genes and their function; developing tools to control disease; improving nutrient utilization, management and production efficiency; and enhancing the nutrient composition of a safe supply of beef for the consumers in the United States and abroad. The livestock industry would benefit from work enabled by the facility. |
| Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas |
Butte, MT |
National Center for Appropriate Technology |
$3,000,000 |
ATTRA is the national sustainable agriculture information service, which offers technical information and assistance to farmers, ranchers and agricultural information providers from all 50 states who are interested in sustainable agriculture technologies and in marketing methods which improve farm sustainability. Authorized in the 1985 and 2008 Farm Bills, this national project offers its clients improved access to scientifically sound, understandable, and practical information. Responses are furnished to clients through mailed responses and publications, email and electronic information dissemination. In Montana last year, NCAT received 3,091 requests for technical assistance from constituents in 72 communities across the state and farmers and ranchers downloaded 44,896 publications off our ATTRA website. Nationally, our website received 3.8 million unique visitors and 4.3 million publications were downloaded, we responded to over 45,600 technical requests, and we reached farmers, ranchers, and others from 48 states through in-person education. |
| Barley for Rural Development |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$600,000 |
Rainfed (not irrigated) barley varieties suitable for growing in this region can be used for malt, feed, fructose ethanol and food. Improved varieties suitable for dryland areas could result in increased income for barley growers and contribute to the development or expansion of value added industries from malting to ethanol production. Funds will be used for further development of quality varieties to meet these potential uses. |
| Bighorn Sheep and Domestic Sheep Disease Conflict Research |
Helena, MT |
Montana Department of Livestock |
$200,000 |
This multi-state project involves collaborative research by unbiased livestock and wildlife researchers. Research is needed on the bacterial, viral (and other microbiologic agents), nutritional (micro and macro-nutrient), stress factors, parasites, and other etiology of Bighorn Sheep die offs. Research collaborators and project designs would be sought by the state veterinarians and wildlife veterinarians in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and the funding would be distributed through the livestock agency in each state in collaboration with USDA/ARS to help determine the causes of Bighorn Sheep pneumonia outbreaks. |
| Brucellosis Vaccines for Livestock and Bison |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$500,000 |
B. abortus is a communicable disease that has already affected Montana’s livestock industry and will continue to pose future threats until improved vaccines are developed. Montana must regain its Brucella-free status in order for the livestock industry to prosper. Furthermore, the presence of Brucella abortus in YNP poses a biosafety hazard to tourists that could impact the state’s tourism industry, particularly, for southwestern Montana. Thus, efforts spearheaded by MSU are warranted, and the development of novel vaccines and study of livestock and bison immune responses will have a tremendously positive impact for Montana agriculture. |
| Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee |
Helena, MT |
Montana Department of Livestock |
$2,250,000 |
This multi-state project will implement brucellosis herd management plans; conduct brucellosis prevention, surveillance, control and eradication activities in MT and the Greater Yellowstone Area, and to provide funds for the MT Dept. of Fish Wildlife & Parks for wildlife surveillance and elk/cattle mitigation. |
| Integrated and Biochemically-Based Management of Wheat Stem Sawfly |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$600,000 |
The wheat stem sawfly causes severe economic losses in Montana and in other impacted areas. Previous research from this project has shown that endemic natural enemies effectively suppress wheat stem sawfly at impacted locations. Federal and state funds have supported mass rearing and redistribution of these enemies to reduce sawfly damage. These findings support expansion of large-scale, statewide parasitoid redistribution. Complementary outreach efforts will focus on cultural practices incorporating minimal disturbance to enhance and sustain a grower-favorable ecological balance between crop production and natural enemy conservation. Collectively, these approaches are the basis for an evolving integrated management strategy against the sawfly in Montana directed at the $100M losses and additional regional impacts. |
| Mobile Biomass Energy Unit for Diseased Timber Harvesting |
Missoula, MT |
University of Montana |
$2,400,000 |
This initiative proposes to assist with developing management practices to cope with pine beetle damage to forests on public lands. The University of Montana has developed and built a portable bioenergy electrical generator for a demonstration and outreach project. Forest thinning eventually will be used to combat the pine beetle epidemic and preserve healthy tree stands, and also to control fire and health threats and salvage resource value. This project will develop proof of concept for deploying improved mobile bioenergy production units to thinning sites to process residues into useful energy. In this way, a bioenergy unit could add value by putting power directly onto the grid and by minimizing the transportation costs of hauling the waste material long distances. |
| Montana Food and Agriculture Innovation Center Network |
Ronan, MT |
Community Giving Assistance Towards Employment |
$3,102,000 |
This appropriation invests in the development of Montana entrepreneurs’ capacity to rebuild our food system, explore opportunities to otherwise add value to our agricultural production and to build successful, income-generating businesses employing Montana citizens. Supporting this resurgent entrepreneurial culture requires up-to-date, appropriate technical assistance and business incubation badly needed by our community-based food and agriculture enterprises. Funding would enable technical outreach and training for agricultural producers and food entrepreneurs. |
| Sustainable Beef Supply |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$1,000,000 |
Sustainable beef production requires an integrated system partnership. Beef producers document best management practices in raising and marketing age- and source-verified calves for which consumers are seeking and are willing to pay a premium. Specifically, MBN provides beef quality assurance (BQA) certification, implements and documents bio-security plans on ranches, and provides educational outreach on topics such as brucellosis management and cow nutrition. MBN, using a “supply-chain” management approach, is driven by customer requirements for quality assurance by documenting accountability, understanding customer preferences, and educating producers on globalization and the comparative advantages of Montana beef. |
| Montana Sheep Institute |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$500,000 |
This project will develop grazing systems to control non-native invasive plants as well as the animal care, use, management and marketing systems necessary for a sustained sheep and goat industry. Currently, non-native plants infest millions of acres of farm and public land in 26 northern states. This problem is not just an agricultural issue, it is a societal issue. It represents the single most serious threat to natural habitats. Noxious weed invasion reduces the ecological integrity of land and waters, alters ecosystems, impacts wildlife habitat and threatens the survival of native plants. In many cases, the cost of traditional weed control methods (e.g., herbicides) actually exceeds the land value. Previous MSU research indicates that small ruminant production can provide land managers an alternate tool to pesticides. |
| Tri State Predator Control Program |
Helena, MT |
Montana Wool Growers |
$2,300,000 |
The funds requested will be evenly divided between the USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services programs in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana to aid their efforts in managing and controlling all predators affecting both the livestock industries in the three states, as well as the states wildlife resources. In addition, these funds will offset the ever increasing costs and demands upon the Wildlife Services programs in the three states due to the exploding and ever widening populations of federally introduced wolves in the states. |
| Commerce, Justice, Science |
| Academic and Workforce Development Program at the Montana Women's Prison |
Billings, MT |
MSU-Billings |
$350,000 |
This project will serve a diverse female population, many of whom are high-risk students, under-prepared for college or typically do not consider further education as an alternative. The age of the inmates ranges from 16 to over 60, with 37% over the age of 40. That puts the majority between the ages of 18 and 39, or an age where workforce skills can be best put to work to keep them out of jail upon release. This appropriation will allow MSU-Billings to hire a coordinator and educators for the program as well as provide tuition subsidies for students and provide the necessary equipment for coursework. The inmates will be taught basic study skills and reading courses; and MSU-Billings staff would also work in conjunction with existing School District #2 personnel to transition inmates from the GED preparation to college-level work and workforce development skills. The MSU-Billings College of Technology would also be able to hire faculty to provide basic skill instruction through formalized courses, seminars and workshops. |
| Bair Science Center |
Billings, MT |
Rocky Mountain College |
$5,500,000 |
The Bair Science Center at Rocky Mountain College houses the chemistry, biology, physics, geology, and mathematics departments, and is in need of renovation and repair. To meet immediate need, the College plans to renovate the existing building and annex, make the building ADA accessible, and add state of the art laboratory equipment to improve science education capabilities. This will positively impact student recruitment, retention, and ultimately will improve scientific contributions to the community. |
| Billings Clinic Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner |
Billings, MT |
Billings Clinic |
$250,000 |
The requested funding will be utilized to cover the increasing costs of administering the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program for the course of five years. The funding will be allocated to equipment maintenance of key forensic evidence collection devices, annual training for Billings Clinic nurses to attain and maintain SANE certification and programmatic costs associated with staffing the on-call protocols of providing this service to our region. These forensic nurses provide a delicate balance between patient care and evidence collection. They play a critical role in treating and investigating cases of abuse, neglect, violence and traumatic accidents. Forensic nurses provide services such as direct patient care, case documentation, evidence collection, case consultation, expert witness testimony and community education. |
| Broadwater County Rural Fire District Building Expansion |
Townsend, MT |
Broadwater County Rural Fire District |
$909,444 |
Broadwater County Rural Fire District is a public service, all volunteer organization, funded solely by county taxes and contributions. The too small Duck Creek Substation must be replaced this year. Also needed is a new building in Winston to protect the growing population |
| Butte-Silver Bow Youth Project |
Butte, MT |
Montana Second Judicial District - Juvenile Probation Office |
$250,000 |
The Butte-Silver Bow Youth Project is a comprehensive project specifically designed to help at risk children. The project programs can function as stand-alone programs, but the Youth Project seeks to offer comprehensive services, using community partners, that extend far beyond discharge from detention or inpatient therapy. The Butte-Silver Bow Youth Project will address serious needs of troubled youth and at the same time maintaining and promoting the well-adjusted and productive youth in our community. Program partners include AWARE, Inc. (mental health, therapeutic services and case management); Butte-Silver Bow Juvenile Probation (monitoring and accountability services); Butte School District #1 (curriculum assistance); Butte-Silver Bow Chemical Dependency (Addictive Disorders Counseling); and Community Counseling and Correctional Services (accountability). |
| Chippewa Cree Juvenile Detention |
Box Elder, MT |
Chippewa Cree Tribe |
$300,000 |
The Tribe is requesting funding to cover the increased construction costs for the renovation of the juvenile detention facility, including costs for electronic monitoring systems. The funds will be used to continue updating the outdated existing detention facility. This renovation project will greatly enhance the law enforcement capabilities on the reservation as well as provide budgetary relief from having to detain juveniles off the reservation at a high cost to the Tribe. |
| Corrections/Detention Facility Equipment |
Harlem, MT |
Fort Belknap Indian Community Council |
$2,000,000 |
Fort Belknap council requests funding for staffing the detention facility, with a total staff need of 18: which includes 1 supervisor, 4 lead corrections, and 13 corrections officers. Personnel is needed to manage, for a control center, the booking/release area, male/female cell blocks. Each staff member must be Academy certified, within a year of permanent status. Current funding through the Bureau of Indian Affairs is insufficient. Supplies for inmates are needed, as well as office equipment and officer uniforms. |
| County Treatment Court Expansion |
Bozeman, MT |
Gallatin County |
$184,000 |
The Gallatin County Treatment Court has been operational since 1999 through a combination of federal implementation grants, local County funding, and funding appropriated through the Montana Legislature. While the program has been incredibly effective at dealing with offenders suffering from chemical dependency, demand far exceeds the capacity, and enrollment is limited in a program with a proven track record of success. This request for additional funding will expand the program capacity by adding case management, mental health access, treatment access, and housing and education assistance for program participants willing to seriously address their chemical dependency issues. |
| Crisis Response Program |
Columbus, MT |
Stillwater County Combined Law Enforcement |
$270,328 |
Stillwater County, Montana has approximately 1800 square miles, containing a population of 9,000 people and borders the largest population center in the State (Billings and Yellowstone County). There are 5 full time Sheriff Deputies, an Undersheriff and Sheriff, along with one city police department with 4 Officers. This equates to the lowest number of per capita law enforcement officers in the State of Montana. In order to support the law enforcement officers on duty a Crisis Response Team made up of Sheriff’s Deputies, Reserve, and City Police is being created to respond and reinforce in cases where high risk operations such as serving felony warrants or responding to violent incidents. This request is to provide equipment to meet the needs of the CRT to provide a safer environment for both the officers and the entire population. |
| Eureka Justice Center |
Eureka, MT |
Town of Eureka |
$900,000 |
The Town of Eureka is still in the process of developing a new Eureka Justice Center. The current Town Hall houses the courtroom, judges’ quarters, municipal offices, dispatch center, Lincoln County Sheriff Department, Montana Highway Patrolman, Town Police, and other agencies. The current building is too small for this level of usage and does not have the proper security to ensure the safety of our law enforcement nor the other employees, especially the lone dispatch officer at night. This project will go towards addressing Eureka’s needs as they prepare to upgrade their facilities. |
| Flathead County Jail Expansion |
Kalispell, MT |
Flathead County |
$12,729,680 |
The jail expansion project is a first phase of the larger $33 million justice center expansion project. The jail expansion is the top priority need in this overall proposed construction project due to overcrowding. All of the county’s public safety, legal and court services are in the existing justice center building that we have outgrown due to the major population growth in recent years. Architectural and engineering design work is complete, and the project could move to the bid and construction phase very quickly with all the preliminary work that has been completed. Studies verify the need for the 100 bed addition to service the needs of Flathead County. |
| Fort Belknap Tribal Courts Upgrades |
Harlem, MT |
Fort Belknap Indian Community Council |
$376,613 |
The Fort Belknap Tribal Courts do not have sufficient funding to operate all areas of the Court. The key to maintaining Tribal courts is providing adequate funding. Tribal Courts currently receive funding to staff 1) a full-time Chief Judge; 2) a full-time Prosecutor and 3) a full-time Family/Civil Court Clerk and 4) a full-time Criminal Court Clerk. Additional staff positions and adequate computer equipment are a vital part of the unmet need within the Tribal Court System. |
| Helena Regional Armored Response/Rescue Vehicle |
Helena, MT |
Helena Police Department |
$495,000 |
The Helena Police Department has identified a need to purchase a Specialized Response/Rescue Vehicle. The type of vehicle needed would be capable of deploying bomb, HAZMAT, and special weapons personnel. The vehicle is also equipped to detect chemical, biological, and radiological materials as well as explosive gases. This vehicle’s armor properties will protect personnel from explosions and hits from multiple projectiles. With recent trends in domestic and foreign terroristic/ criminal acts (heavily armed subjects, bomb threats, etc), the need for an armored/detection vehicle to respond to these incidents has been mandatory. Local governmental tactical law enforcement is the primary resource for these responses. |
| McLaughlin Research Institute Expansion |
Great Falls, MT |
McLaughlin Institute |
$3,000,000 |
McLaughlin Research Institute has a fifty-year history of conducting biomedical research and education that is important to improving healthcare for everyone. Currently, we are expanding and renovating our mouse facility to provide laboratory space for two new faculty members. The project we are proposing would complete the shelled space and immediately keep or create jobs in construction and in manufacturing of building materials and equipment. Additionally, it would enhance research infrastructure for additional research teams, thus creating good paying research positions that would remain long after the construction phase is complete. |
| Missoula Police Headquarters Facility |
Missoula, MT |
City of Missoula |
$7,500,000 |
Missoula struggles to support the needs of law enforcement in providing for the safety of the community and working to combat the effects of drugs and violence on western Montana in a small city situated on crossroads of national and international significance. Two decades of dramatic growth has hampered the community’s ability to maintain adequate infrastructure and the impact of crime and disorder has spurred increases in the size of the police force, creating need for state and federal assistance to protect the community better. The present Police facility is grossly crowded, lacks energy efficiency and causes inefficient operations, which are taking further toll on the ability to deliver police services. A new police headquarters will correct those deficiencies and improve handling of criminal investigations, house task force efforts for Internet Crimes Against Children and other cyber-crime investigations, including computer forensic services in a state-of-the-art facility. |
| Missoula Public Safety and Operations Training Center |
Missoula, MT |
Missoula County |
$1,000,000 |
Missoula County, in partnership with local law enforcement, fire, and public health agencies, intends to build a new Public Safety Operations and Training Center. The new facility is proposed to house the Missoula County’s Office of Emergency Services and the EOC (Emergency Operations Center);Missoula County’s 9-1-1 Dispatch Center; new regional, multidisciplinary training center for law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services and public health; and the Missoula County Sheriff’s Department. Missoula County has reserved $4,000,000 in base funding for the Center. |
| Montana Meth Project |
Missoula, MT |
Montana Meth Project |
$600,000 |
The Montana Meth Project is active in three areas: l) public service messaging, 2) public policy, and 3) community action. It sustains a campaign of research-based paid public service messaging - including advertising, public relations, and Web sites - to effect attitude changes regarding methamphetamine use among Montana's youth. At the core of the Montana Meth Project effort is an ongoing, research-based marketing campaign that graphically communicates the risks of Meth use. In September 2005, the Montana Meth Project initiated large-scale prevention advertising across Montana, targeting Montana youths ages 12-17, reaching an estimated 70 -90% of them three times a week with Meth prevention messaging. The goal of the Montana Meth Project advertising is to "unsell" Meth, equipping the youth of Montana with the facts about methamphetamine so they can make better informed consumption decisions. |
| Montana Offender Notification Tracking System - Juvenile Justice System |
Helena, MT |
Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association |
$600,000 |
This project will assist in decreasing the recidivism rate among Montana youths in the Juvenile Justice System and increase the capabilities of the probation and parole officers to successfully divert youth from incarceration. It will help keep these same youth in the education system and improve their chances to successfully complete a rehabilitation program. Electronic monitoring makes it much more likely for the youth to remain in contact with family members, support groups, and keep in touch with local cultural and religious practices. All of these factors combine to reduce the dramatically reduce the recidivism rate for youths. |
| Montana Safe Schools Center |
Missoula, MT |
University of Montana |
$850,000 |
The Montana Safe Schools Center at University of Montana is prepared to work with schools, state agencies, and tribes on the interrelated issues of childhood trauma and victimization, suicide prevention, threat assessment, behavioral health and bullying. The University of Montana hosts the most qualified personnel and organization in the state for such an initiative. Objectives for this project are to assist schools and law enforcement to treat physical and psychological symptoms of trauma, suicide, and targeted violence using evidence based protocols, increase awareness and train staff in proven suicide prevention and student support, decrease bullying and cyber bullying among students, and train schools to assist childhood victims of domestic violence. |
| Rocky Mountain Emergency Services Training Center Structural Fire Trainer |
Helena, MT |
Heena Regional Airport |
$2,125,000 |
A structural fire trainer will elevate the RMESTC and Helena to the highest level of fire services training, providing the best possible training for emergency and first responder providers available in the northwest. In addition to local volunteer and professional fire departments, ambulance services, and law enforcement agencies, Helena is the home to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and the Fort William Henry Harrison Training Support Center. Law enforcement and fire service/EMS, civilian, state and federal personnel will benefit from this state-of-the-art training. The building will be outfitted with “burn rooms” which will utilize propane for the simulated fire scenarios, and there will also be some non-burn rooms for rescue and/or SWAT team training. |
| Roy Ambulance and Building Project |
Roy, MT |
Roy Ambulance Service |
$265, 315 |
To improve the emergency services available to residents in the northeastern corner of Fergus County and southern Phillips County, funds are requested to support the Roy Ambulance Service. This project will provide emergency service through the Ambulance and Fire departments so that emergency personnel can better protect property and save lives. Specifically, this funding will support the purchase of new vehicles and equipment, as well as enable the Service to prepare for construction of a new facility. |
| Southeastern Montana Public Safety Communications and Radio Acquisition |
Helena, MT |
Interoperability Montana |
$3,190,000 |
Much of the wireless communications infrastructure in eastern Montana is between 10 and 30 years old and uses technology that is often unreliable and costly to maintain. The Interoperability Montana (IM) Project is successfully addressing these challenges using a cooperative, grassroots approach to improve radio interoperability for local, state, tribal and federal public safety organizations, including law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services (EMS), and others. The goal is to establish a statewide communications network using the P25 technology standard endorsed by the federal government. The network will be connected with a high-capacity digital microwave backbone, which will improve radio coverage, quality and dependability. |
| Yellowstone County Detention Center and Sheriff’s Office Improvements |
Billings, MT |
Yellowstone County |
$1,700,000 |
Yellowstone County seeks federal funding to perform critically needed upgrades on the Sheriffs Offices and the Detention Facility. The current spaces are in need of renovation to increase energy efficiency, ensure safety and health for workers, and ensure the longevity of the existing facilities. Upgrades to be performed with federal funding include HVAC improvements in both the Sheriff's office and the detention center, replacement of the boiler and hot water systems at the Detention Center, and retrofitting of lighting equipment at the detention center. |
| Financial Services and General Government |
| Accelerated Entrepreneur Program |
Bozeman, MT |
Prospera |
$989,500 |
The Montana Accelerated Entrepreneur “AcE” Program is an economic development resource providing specialized business technical assistance (business consulting) and training to Montana entrepreneurs and companies having the greatest capacity and potential for high growth and job creation. The program delivers tailored, high-quality expertise in financial, legal, managerial and marketing matters which are typically not available through the existing federally funded business assistance resources in Montana. The program has leveraged existing resources (rather than duplicating or competing with them) to have a significant impact on Montana’s entrepreneur-driven economic growth, including: more than $33.4 million in new financing and angel investment for growth companies; more than 363 new “quality” jobs created; and more than 88 companies assisted from 2004 through 2008. |
| Central Montana Growth Fund |
Great Falls, MT |
Great Falls Development Authority |
$1,000,000 |
The Central Montana Growth Fund will provide vital loan capital to help meet the growing need for our gap financing products to assist small business. In the current economic environment it has become increasingly difficult for entrepreneurs and small business to access lines of credit for such uses as working capital and real estate financing through traditional means. This has increased the need for the types of finance products traditionally offered by economic development finance institutions such as Great Falls Development Authority. |
| High Technology Assistance Program for Micro and Nano-technologies |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$1,000,000 |
The Montana Microfabrication Facility (MMF) is a shared-use cleanroom facility housing the specialized equipment used to make the microstructured materials and devices used in sensors, optoelectronics, genomics and pharmaceuticals development and alternative energy technologies such as solar and fuel cells. This equipment is expensive, but by making it centrally located and maintained and shared by many users, even small Montana companies and individual university researchers can have access to cutting edge equipment with which to advance regional and national nanotechnology capabilities. In all, 31 people from 9 Montana companies have used the MMF to advance their competitiveness. Still, the majority of Montana high-technology companies do not have the training or available technical personnel to effectively use the MMF to adopt new technologies. Specifically, this program would provide the necessary training and technical assistant to use the MMF, helping companies expand this business and create new jobs. |
| Log Yard Salvage for Small Forest Product Companies |
Missoula, MT |
Missoula Area Economic Development Foundation |
$24,300,000 |
In the current economic crisis, forest products operations have been hit hard by the collapse of the housing market, drastic slowing in other construction, and the deepening global recession. During this uncertain time, companies have been resilient in exploring new markets for products, and in utilizing opportunities to cut production costs. One such opportunity lies in the paving of log yards. Multiple acres of these facilities are unpaved yard. During production, residual wood waste materials are scattered in these yards, mixing with dirt and gravel. Currently, companies must pay for this contaminated wood waste to be hauled to and dumped in local landfills, which greatly decreases the lifespan of the landfill, an expensive community resource. If, however, the log yards were paved, companies could either use the gravel and dirt free wood waste themselves for the production of on-site co-generation energy, or sell the residuals to operations such as pulp and paper mills, or other producers of bio-fuel or co-generation energy. The project would fund 100.8 acres of paved space at $240,000 per acre. |
| Next Step |
Bozeman, MT |
TechRanch |
$2,500,000 |
TechRanch plans to expand its reach into clean and renewable energy start ups across the state; expand its very successful Bootstrapping Program (Loans and Education) in smaller rural communities; expand its programs and networks for all Montana companies seeking investment capital (payroll) and will launch a new Quick Start program to stimulate job creation in the high tech sector. TechRanch will hire a marketing professional, an outreach coordinator, a clean tech advisor and a development director to help its clients launch quickly and create more jobs in shorter time frames. These programs serve companies across the state that employee over 2,000 people; and, if funded, TechRanch will strive to create another 1,000 jobs in Montana in the next 24 months. |
| State-Foreign Ops |
| Global Education: Mandarin Project |
Kalispell, MT |
Flathead Valley Community College |
$500,000 |
Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) was awarded a Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence grant for a Chinese language faculty member for the 2008-2009 academic year. The Fulbright scholar will have provided language classes and cultural lectures to over 2,000 students and community members, increasing understanding and providing opportunities to explore business and educational partnerships with China during the year. This project will provide funding to continue the program launched by the Fulbright grant and put a permanent Chinese language program in place at FVCC. The FVCC language program will be articulated with The University of Montana’s Chinese language program for seamless transfer of credits. The project will also partner with the Confucius Institute at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at The University of Montana to bring Chinese language to K-12 schools in northwest Montana. |
| Vietnamese Affairs Program |
Missoula, MT |
University of Montana |
$2,500,000 |
The University of Montana seeks to create a comprehensive Vietnamese Affairs Program. The Program, would provide UM the resources to create a new curriculum devoted to the Vietnam war and contemporary Vietnamese affairs; participate in student and faculty exchanges with Vietnam; to provide degree and non-degree training to Vietnamese faculty; and to organize programming on Vietnam and U.S.-Vietnamese relations ranging from trade and health care to contemporary strategic issues, the environment, human rights and legal reform. |
| Defense |
| Adaptive Lightweight Material Technology for Missile Defense |
Browning, MT |
Blackfeet Nation |
$5,170,000 |
Blackfeet Nation and teammate Radiance Technologies, Inc., with program coordination and oversight by the U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command conducts research, development, test and demonstration of novel adaptive lightweight materials (ALM) technology for missile defense on the Blackfeet Nation reservation in Browning, Montana. The primary focus of this advanced technology effort is to improve the design, testing, and manufacturing processes leading to higher performance light-weight materials at significantly reduced costs. |
| Adelos Program: Nuclear Security Sensor System |
Missoula, MT |
TerraEchos |
$3,500,000 |
The Adelos Program expands the testing and evaluation of an advanced fiber optic sensor system design to provide intelligence and surveillance information of highly secure nuclear facilities. The program activity will occur in collaboration with the US Navy Strategic System Program office, US Navy Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), and the Adelos Test Center at the Idaho National Laboratory. The Adelos Team seeks to advance the classification of digital acoustic information coming from the fiber optic sensor array and develop the effective, real-time distribution of signal intelligence (SIGINT) through advanced geospatial software applications. |
| Adjuvants that Enhance Natural Resistance Against Mucosal Pathogens |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$2,000,000 |
Biowarfare and bioterrorist acts represent serious threats to the war fighter and the public. New approaches to counteract these biowarfare agents are needed. This research is designed to identify new classes of drugs that enhance natural host defense mechanisms and thereby, repel a number of infectious agents. MSU has already developed a number of novel adjuvants, but needs to expand its efforts in the preclinical evaluation of these compounds in preparation to move them to clinical development. This initiative will also benefit Montana economically by enhancing the research capability of MSU and LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals, and by the research personnel it will employ. |
| Advanced Materials for Personnel and Infrastructure Protection |
Bozeman, MT |
Federal Technology Group |
$3,000,000 |
Currently, there is a strong need to develop blast- and fragment-protection solutions for uses in various military and commercial land- and sea-based applications. For many terrorist organizations, bombs and improvised explosive devices are ideal choices for a mode of attack, if they are available, because they are cheap, relatively accessible, and easy to transport. The U.S. is still a significant target of interest to terrorist groups and rogue nations. Superior armor performance is needed not only by the U.S. military, but also by the U.S. State Department in overhead, building and structure protection. The proposed is a versatile solution that can evolve into infrastructure reinforcement and personnel protection for judge benches, jury boxes, convenience stores, bank teller areas, safe rooms, storm shelters, bridges and tunnels. |
| Clinical Development of a Norovirus Gastroenteritis Vaccine |
Bozeman, MT |
LigoCyte |
$4,500,000 |
LigoCyte now leads the world as the only announced company developing a vaccine to Noroviruses for preventing epidemic outbreaks of gastroenteritis. This vaccine will provide an effective countermeasure to the norovirus outbreaks seen in military operations as documented onboard naval ships, in battlefield action in Iraq and at military recruit training centers. Outbreaks and deaths in VA hospitals and nursing homes have been documented in the scientific press and in the media. LigoCyte’s vaccine will address the significant disease burden of Norovirus where vulnerable populations including children, the elderly and the hospitalized are at risk for serious complications, including death. The monies requested will be used to prepare for and conduct qualifying clinical trials need for FDA approval of our vaccine that has now been tested successfully in an FDA approved Phase I clinical trial. |
| Cryofracture/Plasma Arc Demilitarization Program |
Butte, MT |
MSE |
$8,000,000 |
MSE, in conjunction with General Atomics, is designing and building a mobile cryoplasma demilitarization system that will freeze, crush and destroy obsolete and hazardous munitions in a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally acceptable process. The combination of the cryofracture and plasma technologies will provide a unique demilitarization capability suitable for a wide range of difficult to handle small munitions, explosive components and energetic materials. The mobile platform will provide a national capability to address specific demilitarization issues where they exist without the cost and safety concerns associated with shipping munitions to centralized facilities. The elimination of these munitions frees existing storage capacity, reduces safety concerns, and removes potential terrorist targets. |
| Defense-Critical Languages and Cultures Program |
Missoula, MT |
University of Montana |
$2,500,000 |
A white paper produced by a February 2004 conference convened by the Department of Defense called for a massive national foreign language and culture initiative. This program expands a dedicated program leading to functional proficiency in Chinese and adding capacity in Arabic and Persian. It creates new capacity – at a modest cost – that supplements Defense and related federal programs that are now operating at or beyond capacity. Additionally, a portion of the funding will be used for scholarship assistance for Reserve Officer Training Students who enroll in a national pilot program in intensive Arabic or Chinese. |
| DEPUTEE High Powered Microwave Non-Lethal Weapon |
Butte, MT |
MSE |
$4,600,000 |
This project will demonstrate High-Power Microwave (HPM) technology for non-lethal offensive and defensive weapon applications against vessels, land vehicles, aircraft, and command and control installations. Neither the U.S. military nor law enforcement agencies have this capability. Investigation will be done to test HPM technology against unfriendly forces using small boats against U.S. Naval forces or in piracy against civilian shipping, as well as for the pre-detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). |
| Development of an Advanced Helicopter Landing Aid for Brownout Conditions |
Bozeman, MT |
Bridger Photonics |
$800,000 |
Brownout conditions are the number one cause of downed rotorcraft and have claimed more helicopters in recent military operations than all other threats combined. The loss of pilot visibility due to swirling sand and dust has resulted in considerable loss of life and an estimated >$100M/year in lost equipment. Concerted efforts are underway in all military branches to solve this problem, but traditional imaging technologies lack (1) the ability to see small obstacles (hanging cables, wires), (2) the ability to sense through dense obscurations (blowing sand or haze), and (3) the low cost, small footprint, and robust nature for insertion and operation in demanding flight conditions. Bridger Photonics is developing a breakthrough 3D imaging system that will overcome these limitations and provide pilots with accurate real-time displays of obscured landing zones. |
| Development of Next Generation Simulation Training for AFSOC Pararescue Forces |
Butte, MT |
National Center for Healthcare Informatics |
$7,674,193 |
A critical need exists for “next generation” simulated medical training for the elite US Air Force Pararescuemen (PJs) which would realistically depict environments and challenges, greatly enhance the USAF’s ability to get PJs “team ready,” and dramatically decrease overall training costs. The NCHCI, a Center of Excellence for the Rocky Mountain Supercomputing Centers (RMSC), is leading an effort to plan for, design, and build a world-class simulation training center in Butte, Montana underpinned by the state-of-the-art virtual-world design capabilities of Neogence Enterprises and NuMedia Productions of Raleigh, NC and the availability of a supercomputer operated by RMSC. Within three years, the center will evolve to include the training of rural healthcare providers, emergency workers, and first responders, and the NCHCI estimates that the Simulation Center could train thousands annually and employ 150 people with an estimated annual payroll of $10 million within five years. |
| Dual-Use Optical Sensors for Advanced Military Applications |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$1,600,000 |
Montana State University-Bozeman (MSU) requests funding to deploy combined active and passive optical remote sensing systems to characterize the effects of the atmosphere (clouds, water vapor, etc) on polarization signatures that are being explored for advanced military sensing to identify camouflaged targets. The proposed research program will combine MSU expertise in optical sensors and atmospheric optics with local optics industry expertise in compact hyperspectral imagers to provide data and measurement capabilities of dramatic significance to the Department of Defense. This dual-use effort will draw on sophisticated environmental sensors to quantify the effects of a variable atmosphere on advanced military sensing applications. |
| Improving Mission Preparedness |
Missoula, MT |
University of Montana |
$2,500,000 |
The objectives of this proposal are to integrating novel approaches to training of these elite warfighters. Numerous programs attempt to enhance the technology of equipment provided to the combat controllers and other special forces. Unfortunately, this adds undue complexity to the job and increases the required load carriage. This proposal focuses directly on improving the capabilities of the human weapon system, with emphasis on early identification of biomarkers that may provide insight into improving the physical preparation of successful candidates. |
| Integrated Tourniquet System Research |
Bozeman, MT |
BlackHawk |
$4,500,000 |
In its current deployable condition, the BLACKHAWK! I.T.S. already meets and exceeds this most current recommendation by the committee without the potential for tourniquet failure due to placement over an intact uniform. In addition the BLACKHAWK! ITS, is prepositioned in the most anatomical proximal and effective position on the extremity. The BLACKHAWK! Integrated Tourniquet System (ITS) integrates four life saving tourniquets in the pants and four tourniquets in the shirt of the standard uniform. The tourniquets are correctly positioned and oriented to the upper and lower extremities for immediate access under existing gear and can be operated by the wearer, a team member, or a medic. ITS benefits are significant and life saving including single handed application; activation in seconds; safe and secure lock down; complete occlusion of blood; and the system’s combined weight is less than a single traditional tourniquet. |
| Low Acoustic and Thermal Signature Battlefield Power Source |
Butte, MT |
Montana Tech |
$4,000,000 |
In support of growing Defense applications, Montana Tech proposes continued funding for a joint program to combine research, development, and construction of a reliable, durable, low acoustic, and low thermal signature battlefield power source. At the Center for Advanced Mineral and Metallurgical Processing (CAMP), a comprehensive fuel cell research and development initiative is being implemented that will result in the establishment of a national center of excellence. A key thrust of the center will be to focus on technologies suitable for hydrocarbon reforming and fuel cell based power sources. Facilities at Montana Tech include materials testing facilities, analytical testing resources, rapid prototyping capabilities, and a sophisticated precision fabrication center. |
| MARIAH Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Development Program |
Butte, MT |
MSE |
$9,500,000 |
The Mariah Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Development Program is the nation’s only program to develop the wind tunnel technology required to test and evaluate a new generation of missiles, space access vehicles, and high-speed aircraft utilizing ramjet and scramjet propulsion technology. Scramjet propulsion technology is critical to the nation’s defense against the new high-speed cruise missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles currently being developed and deployed by Russia, China, and other nations. Additionally, scramjet propulsion is the key enabling technology for affordable space access and global-reach systems. MSE Technology Applications, Inc. is serving as the Army’s Prime Integrating Contractor for the program. |
| Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad Reconfigurable Vehicle Simulator |
Helena, Mt |
WESCO |
$4,500,000 |
The Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) – Reconfigurable Vehicle Simulator (RVS) will incorporate communications, C2, Human Factors, and fighting capability. More importantly, the MERS-RVS can be reconfigured to replicate any of the transport vehicles that are in service today and are envisioned for the near term. It will allow for easy removal and repositioning of seating, communications and C2 links, sensor inputs, visibility and will accommodate changes with a minimum of tools and systems. |
| MEMS and Liquid Crystal Polymer Microsystems |
Bozeman, MT |
DAQ Systems |
$8,000,000 |
Addressing unique military threats is driving the need for more Precision Strike Munitions and Autonomous Ground Vehicles. At the heart of the guidance systems enabling these smart weapons are sensors and actuators such as accelerometers, gyroscopes and inertial measurement units (IMUs). Achieving mission goals of precision, lethality, no collateral damage, and economical cost demand system miniaturization via advanced design, packaging and integration. Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) Printed Circuit Board (PCB)-Based MEMS devices with signal conditioning electronics are a novel approach to meet these needs. DAQ Systems is at the forefront of developing this critical technology, and seeks federal funding to continue this development and move towards the manufacture of highly integrated LCP PCB Based MEMS Sensors. |
| Metalized Gelled Propellants Production |
Butte, MT |
Resodyn |
$4,000,000 |
Resodyn Corporation proposes to work with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) to develop technology to manufacture highly efficient and improved gelled propellants for both strategic and tactical missile systems. Additionally, these fuels are significantly more desirable from the environmental perspective providing for more efficient storage and cleanup of spills. Additionally, the secondary impact of products developed through this research will fill voids in commercial markets including the following industries: chemical, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and others. |
| Metamorphose/i3 Data Conversion and NAVAIR Standard Viewer Support |
Butte, MT |
Synesis7 |
$12,000,000 |
This ongoing data conversion initiative is essential to cross-organization and systems interoperability and delivering focused data to the actual point of use, anywhere, to better support the day-to-day activities of military personnel. Most of NAVAIR’s technical and maintenance data is still in paper or “static” PDF format. This causes operational and training inefficiencies, higher maintenance error rates, and higher than necessary total life-cycle costs. Poor access to the most current and accurate data causes degraded maintenance, safety, operational performance, and asset availability. It threatens overall aircraft readiness and availability to perform critical missions. This continuing initiative, which began in FY2007, supports the Navy’s need for more integrated and efficient operations, training, and process management, driving desired reductions in operational, maintenance, training, and data management costs. NAVAIR stands to gain annual data management and sustainment cost savings of $134,000,000 as a result of this initiative. |
| MilTech Extension |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$2,000,000 |
The Department of Defense has a critical need to transition new technology to the US warfighter in order to help save lives and improve effectiveness. MilTech is addressing this need through a partnership between TechLink and the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC). MMEC and its counterparts in other states are working closely with TechLink to assist innovative companies that are commercializing new defense-related technology. Miltech providers key technical, manufacturing, business and procurement support to small innovative companies so that they can meet DoD requirements and deliver products to DoD in a timely and satisfactory manner |
| Network Centric Airborne Defense Element |
Kalispell, MT |
Raytheon/Sonju Industrial |
$8,000,000 |
The President's budget request for the Network Centric Airborne Defense Element risk reduction program does not provide funding to complete the validation of the NCADE system concept to enable a near-term, low cost (<$1M per unit), air-launched boost/ascent phase ballistic missile intercept capability that addresses the asymmetric threat and short to intermediate range ballistic missiles, nor transition it to a development program that could provide a contingency capability to the war-fighter by the 2013 time frame. This project is an air launched interceptor of short to intermediate range ballistic missiles, which leverages the capabilities of USAF/USN aircraft. It has received $21 million in funding over the past three years, including $3 million pending in FY09. |
| Neuroprotective Agent to Prevent Loss and Damage |
Missoula, MT |
University of Montana |
$3,500,000 |
Military personnel are often exposed to conditions such as hypovolemic shock, blast force energy waves and concussive injuries. These types of injuries lead to neuronal loss and damage and are often associated with cognitive deficits and epilepsy. There currently are no FDA approved drugs that can be used as neuroprotective agents that limit or prevent the the neuronal loss and damage associated with these types of injuries. This project wil research a stable and effective therapeutic that is easy to administer under adverse conditions. |
| P5CTS Equipment and Integration into the Montana Joint Training environment |
Great Falls, MT |
Cubic Corporation |
$3,000,000 |
The P5 Combat Training System (P5CTS), the next-generation Air Combat Training System is planned to be fielded in ’09 at Great Falls, MT ANG base. P5CTS is the common USAF/US Navy’s current program of record and will field systems at over 30 sites in the U.S. Currently eleven sites have been completed. The Initial–Home Station Instrumentation System (I-HITS) is also planned to be fielded at Helena for use dual-use Army National Guard Training and first responder tracking. The two systems are being integrated to provide for some of the most advanced training capabilities for Joint air ground combat training anywhere in the world, as well as a blue force tracking capability available for Military and Incident Management/First Responder personnel capable of supporting Homeland Security initiatives. Further enhancements such as integration of tactical Link-16 data into the COP have been made possible through the adaptation and implementation of the standard architectures already developed for I-HITS and P5CTS systems. |
| Regenerative Therapeutics for Combat Wound Healing |
Butte, MT |
Resodyn |
$5,000,000 |
Resodyn Corporation proposes to work with Department of Defense medical research partners (Combat Casualty Care Research) to develop bone and tissue engineering technologies for regenerative medicine applications using stem cells. Applications for these technologies include bone and tissue regeneration for human tissue damage related to military battlefield wounds particularly IED attacks and other catastrophic injuries that are inflicted on the warfighter. Furthermore, technologies developed through this research can be partnered with hundreds of U.S. companies, hospitals and clinics for development of new health care procedures. |
| Special Operations Visual Augmentation Systems Handheld Imager/Long Range |
Bozeman, MT |
FLIR Systems |
$9,000,000 |
SOVAS-HHI/Long Range is a thermal camera that can be hand held or mounted on the rear of a vehicle on an inflatable, retractable mast. With the ability to detect and identify targets at >5 kilometers, it allows special operations forces to conduct critical reconnaissance, surveillance, detection and recognition at safe and maximum ranges from positions of relative safety. These systems provide a combat multiplier by allowing SOF to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week in all climate and battlefield conditions. SOCOM has identified SOVAS-HHI/Long Range as an item of “high military value” with a validated inventory objective of more than 2600 systems. |
| Therapeutic Product for Prevention of Infection/Microbial Biofilm in Acute and Chronic Wounds |
Bozeman, MT |
Microbion |
$5,925,000 |
The current environment with respect to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is truly an expanding global crisis. Wounds acquired in military and natural disaster environments are particularly susceptible to microbial contamination. Military wounds are predisposed to infection because they are typically associated with tissue damage, tend to be extensive and deep, may introduce foreign bodies and interfere with local blood supply, may be associated with fractures and burns, and may lead to shock and compromised immune defenses. Microbion is focused on the elimination of these life-threatening infections through the development, and regulatory approval of new forms of therapeutic products. |
| Titanium Extraction, Mining and Process Engineering Research (TEMPER) |
Butte, MT |
UTRS |
$10,000,000 |
The Titanium Extraction, Mining, and Process Engineering Research program will deliver lightweight weapons at an affordable cost for the Army (and DOD), enhancing lethality and performance while reducing cost. This program will use a revolutionary new process to extract titanium alloys. TEMPER is a key component of the Army’s roadmap to low-cost titanium and is essential to the continued delivery of affordable titanium components for Stryker, Abrams, Joint Lightweight Howitzer, and other Army systems. |
| Ultra-wideband Radio Frequency Receiver |
Bozeman, MT |
S2 Corporation |
$1,600,000 |
S2 seeks funding to assure continued development, testing and deployment of Ultra-wideband Radio Frequency Receiver technology. This technology provides passive sensing capabilities that are critically needed for total spectral awareness for unmet defense and national security applications, which builds upon on prior company success with design, building and testing of our photonic radar signal processor hardware. |
| US Army Vascular Graft Research Project |
Missoula, MT |
International Heart Institute |
$2,100,000 |
US Army researchers recognize the urgent need for a readily-available, sterile, freeze-dried vascular graft made from animal tissue for the management of traumatic vascular injuries. The International Heart Institute (a joint venture with Saint Patrick Hospital and the University of Montana) is working with the US Army to develop such a graft that will enable reconstructive surgery to occur quickly and safely right at the front line. While early research findings show that the International Heart Institute graft is far superior to grafts currently in use, additional funding is needed in FY 2010 to complete this research work. |
| US Marine Corps Helicopter Navigation Thermal Imaging System |
Bozeman, MT |
FLIR Systems |
$5,000,000 |
The U.S. Marine Corps is conducting an upgrade program to provide additional capability and significantly improve the performance of the AN/AAQ-22 Navigation Thermal Imaging Systems (NTIS) currently in use on their fleet of UH-1N helicopters. This upgrade permits USMC aircrews to detect, recognize, identify and designate targets for precision-guided munitions. This is a fully mature product developed by FLIR Systems. If successful, all funds will go to the purchase and integration of BRITE Star thermal imaging systems on Marine Corps UH-1N Helicopters. |
| V-22/S7 CABO/i3 Development and ALE Support within SCALE/i3 Development Framework |
Butte, MT |
Synesis7 |
$4,500,000 |
The Navy/Marine Corps aviation (and DoD wide) logistics and technical data management and sustainment community is currently hampered by having to use a variety of non-standard, non-integrated, incompatible high-cost proprietary authoring and data sustainment systems and multiple proprietary databases to develop and sustain all aircraft platform-specific technical, logistics, and maintenance data. There are associated excessive development costs, high sustainment costs, and virtually no data re-use opportunities across aircraft platforms developing similar data. By investing in CABO/i3 the monetary benefits on just two Navy/Marine Corps aircraft programs (V-22 Osprey and H-1 helicopter) include annual data sustainment and management cost savings of $12,150,000 for 20 years. This creates a CABO/i3 investment payback period from these two programs of 1.12 years. CABO/i3 will be used throughout the Navy and other DoD programs. The potential cumulative cost savings across the Navy and the DoD are very significant |
| Whitmore Ravine Erosion Control and Stabilization |
Great Falls, MT |
USAF Operations/Maint. |
$6,885,000 |
Over the last several decades, stormwater runoff from Malmstrom Air Force Base has caused significant erosion to two forks of Whitmore Ravine, which sits on private lands between the base boundary and the Missouri River. In addition to the loss of valuable agricultural lands once adjacent to the ravine, the erosion has delivered an estimated 470,000 tons of sediment to the river between Rainbow and Morony Dams (a 303d listed reach of the Missouri) and caused regular damage to the Rivers Edge Trail. |
| Homeland Security |
| Lockwood Rural Fire Station |
Lockwood |
Lockwood Rural Fire District |
$4,747,987 |
Funding for this project would assist Lockwood Rural Fire District with construction of a new station house to adequately accommodate equipment and personnel. The current station lacks sufficient space and does not meet safety standards. Lockwood Fire District's current station also acts as a substation for the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office. This fire station would greatly enhance the LRFD’s ability to safely and more efficiently provide services to the residents of the district, Yellowstone County, the region and Montana in times of severe wildland fire conditions, other disasters or significant incidents. |
| Ryegate Fire Department Center |
Ryegate |
Ryegate Fire Department |
$250,000 |
Funding for this project would assist Ryegate Fire Department, which provides emergency services across Golden Valley County, in constructing a new Department Station. This station would provide space for equipment and personnel, and would assist the county in meeting the needs of rural county residents during emergency situations such as wildfires and severe winter storms. |
| West End Community Emergency Center and Medical Outreach Facility |
DeBorgia, MT |
West End Quick Response Unit |
$493,000 |
The West End of Mineral County is composed of the towns and areas of Cabin City, Henderson, De Borgia, Haugan, Saltese, Taft, and Lookout Pass. This remote area along the Interstate-90 corridor does not have a community emergency operations center. Additionally, the 30-member all-volunteer emergency medical, fire, and rescue organization does not have a maintenance facility for their ambulance, rescue and fire vehicles, nor do they have proper training or alert facilities. Over 90% of the emergency medical, crash/rescue, search & rescue, hazmat and fire calls relate to the impact of federal land or facilities, including the Lolo National Forest and the 32 miles of the I-90 corridor for which the West End supplies emergency medical, hazmat, crash/rescue, and traffic control services. |
| Interior and Environment |
| Airborne Optical Detection of Invasive Species at Yellowstone Lake |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$1,500,000 |
The Yellowstone ecosystem is being seriously threatened by invasive lake trout that eat the prized native cutthroat trout, thereby eliminating the principal protein source for Grizzly bears, Pelicans, Otters, and other vital species in Yellowstone National Park. The National Park Service is conducting an aggressive program to locate and eradicate invasive species from Yellowstone Lake. To enhance these efforts, Montana State University (MSU) researchers recently demonstrated the ability of airborne laser radar (lidar) to locate pockets of invasive lake trout in Yellowstone Lake. This proposed project is to develop and deploy compact optical sensor systems on small aircraft to respond to a time-critical need for advanced detection and mapping of invasive fish species in Yellowstone Lake. |
| Big Hole Grayling Recovery and Drought Mitigation Project |
Butte, MT |
Big Hole Watershed Committee |
$1,984,000 |
This decade-long grassroots project addresses water management and ecological enhancement efforts among agencies and citizens that will result in recovery of a critically imperiled species and will demonstrate successful water management that responds to climate change. The Big Hole River is located in southwestern Montana. The Big Hole is the last place in the United States that still sustains a self-reproducing population of fluvial Arctic grayling. This species was once abundant in the entire Missouri headwaters region and in rivers in other northern states. If the grayling disappears from the Big Hole River, they disappear in the United States. This request is part of a decade-long species preservation effort that is beginning to show success. It is critical that momentum be maintained. |
| Big Hole Inholding Acquisition |
Beaverhead County |
American Land Conservancy |
$1,300,000 |
The Holland Ranch inholding comprises 320 acres deep within the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest in southwest Montana. This property is at critical risk for development, and offers important wildlife habitat and recreational usage. This project has ranked highly in previous US Forest Service Land and Water Conservation Fund aquisition rankings. |
| Birch Creek Demonstration Forest |
Flathead County |
The Conservation Fund |
$3,500,000 |
If approved, this request of $3.5 million from the federal Forest Legacy Program would allow the State of Montana to conserve 2 tracts totaling 700 acres in the Birch Creek Demonstration Forest along the Foys-to-Blacktail trail at Herron Park. The acquisition would ensure continued outdoor recreational opportunities on the popular Foys-to-Blacktail trail, as well as serve as a demonstration forest to help local landowners manage lands for timber production, research, and fire suppression. The project would also advance Forest Legacy goals by providing a buffer to adjacent USFS lands, which would prevent development in one of the most rapidly developing areas of the state. |
| Blackfoot Community Project (Nora Gulch) |
Helena, MT |
The Nature Conservancy |
$1,600,000 |
This request would allow the purchase of 1522 acres of undeveloped land in three isolated parcels (Nora Gulch: 760 acres, Glen’s Gulch: 440 acres and Sucker Creek: 322 acres) by the U.S. Forest Service. The parcels are adjacent to existing Forest Service land. Acquisition of the parcels will help protect the important natural resource values of the area. Residential subdivision of agricultural lands and second home development are the most significant threats throughout the Blackfoot River Valley. Protection of these lands is critical for enhancing the existing federal investment in the project area, including wildlife habitat for grizzly bears, wolves, elk, and threatened trout species. |
| Blackfoot River (Murray-Douglas Creek) Acquisition |
Helena, MT |
The Nature Conservancy |
$3,000,000 |
This request would allow the purchase of conservation easements on 9,594 acres of undeveloped land that is adjacent to the largest block of Bureau of Land Management land in Western Montana. Acquisition of conservation easements in the project area helps to maintain a rural agricultural economy while protecting important natural resource values. Residential subdivision of agricultural lands and second home development are the most significant threats throughout the Blackfoot River Valley. Increased investments in purchase of conservation easements for private lands offer ranchers and farmers an alternative to subdivision of their lands. |
| Blackfoot River Special Recreation Management Area |
Helena, MT |
The Nature Conservancy |
$5,300,000 |
This particular request would allow the transfer of 5421.56 acres to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), consolidating the BLM’s checkerboard holdings in the Garnet Mountains. Public acquisition of these lands is critical for protecting the federal investment in the project area, ensuring permanent public access to these and surrounding BLM lands, and preserving important wildlife habitat for grizzly bears, wolves, elk, lynx, and threatened trout species. Residential subdivision and second home development are the most significant threats throughout the Blackfoot River Valley. In the many community meetings held by the Blackfoot Challenge as part of this project, the public has consistently voiced strong support for BLM ownership of these lands. |
| Chronic Wasting Disease |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$500,000 |
Scientists at MSU, in collaboration with scientists at South Dakota State University, have developed a small deer model (~10 kg) for Chronic Wasting Disease that can provide an opportunity to study the disease in the new state-funded Johnson Family Livestock Facility at MSU. This containment facility will permit MSU scientists to investigate the pathways of disease dissemination and neuroinvasion within a cervid, and from an infected deer to a susceptible deer. These studies can directly address the ability of the disease to spread at the cellular level, and ultimately, lead to improved surveillance of the disease and development of management approaches to contain disease spread. This is important in order to protect both animal health and economic interests at the state and national level. |
| ClimateScape |
Bozeman, MT |
Yellowstone Ecological Research Center |
$1,000,000 |
ClimateScape creates a virtual research and applications center (via a web portal) that allows scientists, governmental agencies, and the public transparent, real time access to a wide range of region-wide ecological geospatial data for monitoring changes in the global environment and decision support for energy, climate, and water challenges. ClimateScape creates an end-to-end solution tying field sensors (for ecological maps, energy grid performance, more); to data routing instruments and infrastructure (including satellite uplinks); to data analysis and sharing operations driven by NASA models and hosted by the new supercomputer in Butte. ClimateScape, with initial deployment on the Crow Reservation, on the Hi-Line, and in the Flathead, is based on a unique public-private partnership (UM, IBM, NASA, YERC, and Cisco), with each group providing expertise, best practices, and in-kind donations. ClimateScape will apply directly to multiple business sectors, including energy, defense, agriculture, recreation, maritime, distance learning, and remote medical consultation. |
| Cooke City Mining Claims |
Cooke City, MT |
Trust for Public Land |
$4,000,000 |
Available for acquisition within the GYE in FY 2010 are 1,470 acres of mining claims located near Cooke City just outside Yellowstone National Park in Montana. The Cooke City claims are located in a fragile, alpine environment, surrounded by National Forest System lands within and near the Absarokee-Beartooth Wilderness and just two miles from the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park. The mountain streams and lakes that drain out of this area provide critical habitat for Yellowstone cutthroat trout and serve as important headwater tributaries to the Yellowstone and Stillwater Rivers. The area also provides important habitat for numerous wildlife species, including grizzly bear, mountain goats, gray wolves, Canada lynx, wolverine, bighorn sheep, elk, moose and mule deer. And finally, the area is a popular backcountry recreation destination, providing excellent hiking, camping, horseback riding, hunting and fishing opportunities. |
| Crow Agency Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements |
Crow Agency, MT |
Crow Tribe |
$12,000,000 |
The Crow tribe requests funds to improve the wastewater collection system and to construct a new drinking water treatment plant in Crow Agency. The purpose of the new system is to replace old facilities and expand service to include new homes and businesses, while providing adequate quantities of water that meets safe drinking water standards. This project is a four phase effort to improve currently insufficient infrastructure. |
| Flathead Basin Baseline Ecological Health Study |
Bigfork, MT |
Flathead Lake Biological Station of the University of Montana |
$4,000,000 |
The proposed Lodgepole/Foisey Creek Mine in Canada, coupled with mining of the Lillyburt and Sage Creek deposits could potentially result in over 100 years of coal mining at the edge of Glacier National Park, with coal mine seepage draining into Park waters, through a National Wild and Scenic River that is home to bull trout, to Flathead Lake. To protect the interests of the United States, a thorough Environmental Assessment, including collection of baseline water quality, air quality, and wildlife population data, needs to be performed, so that the nature and breadth of the threat of upstream mining activity can be fully understood. |
| Hockaday Museum of Art Expansion |
Kalispell, MT |
City of Kalispell |
$500,000 |
In 2008 over 18,500 visitors of all ages experienced the artistic legacy of Montana, the Blackfeet Indian Nation, and Glacier National Park through the Hockaday Museum of Art exhibitions and programs. The Hockaday Museum’s growing permanent collection and exhibition and education programs now stretch the limits of its historic Carnegie Library facility. If the museum is to fulfill their mission “to enrich the cultural life of our community and region and preserve the artistic legacy of Montana and Glacier National Park” it is imperative that the facility be expanded and improved. |
| Lodgepole Hall Historic Renovation Project |
Harlem, MT |
Fort Belknap Indian Community Council |
$337,810 |
This project would renovate the historic Lodgepole Hall on the Fort Belknap reservation. The Lodgepole Hall was eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places because it has been associated with the events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the local history. The building is the last example of a number of dance halls built on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. The New Deal Programs of the 1930’s provided construction of the Community Hall. Different historical accounts account for construction on the hall, however this seems to of have been a team effort undertaken by the old Works Program Administration (WPA), Public Works Administration (PWA and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1936. |
| Meeteetse Spires ACEC |
Carbon and Yellowstone Counties |
Montana Conservation Fund |
$1,500,000 |
In partnership with the BLM, The Conservation Fund has reached an agreement to acquire a 560-acre private inholding from a willing seller within the ACEC with the goal of conveying the property to the BLM through an appropriation of $1.5 million in FY 2010, completing Phase II of two phases. Local residents and visitors would benefit from the increased access to public land for outdoor recreation. The area features outstanding opportunities for hiking, hunting, camping, skiing and other forms of outdoor activities. In addition to their scenic value, the Meeteetse Spires features a diversity of habitat as a result of the rain shadow effects caused by the dramatic elevation changes associated with the Spires. In 1998, BLM designated the ACEC to conserve critical ecological habitat for the Shoshonea pulvinata, a federally-listed rare plant known to exist in only 3 locations in Montana and fewer than 12 locations globally. |
| Metro Wastewater Facility Upgrade |
Butte, MT |
City of Butte |
$4,000,000 |
The current nutrient levels of effluent puts fisheries and restoration efforts in Silver Bow Creek at risk. The nutrients exceed the amounts allowed by environmental regulations. Upgrades to the sewer treatment plant will eliminate the environmental threat and bring Butte-Silver Bow into regulatory compliance. Butte-Silver Bow participates in a Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Program (VNRP) to meet the in-stream nutrient and algae targets of the watershed. The project has preliminary engineering complete and will need final engineering and construction. |
| Missouri River Water Treatment Plant Reconstruction |
Helena, MT |
City of Helena |
$2,000,000 |
The City of Helena has two primary sources of drinking water, the Tenmile Water Treatment Plant and the Missouri River Water Treatment Plant (MRTP). The 49 year old MRTP is an aging conventional treatment plant that is in need of rehabilitation. This ongoing renovation of that facility will bring the treatment plant up to date and ensure a reliable source of safe drinking water for the city. |
| Museum of the Plains Indian |
Browning, MT |
Friends of the Museum of the Plains Indian |
$254,000 |
The Museum of the Plains Indian, owned by the Department of the Interior, needs adequate staff and operating funds to maintain a 12-month museum on the edge of Glacier National Park with its international array of visitors, amidst the Blackfeet Reservation with museum collections derived from more than 20 tribes. There need to be adequate curatorial, cultural preservation, education, traditional art support, and tourism programs at the Museum but the current FTE (2) supports only two permanent positions: Acting Curator and Maintenance Worker. The long-term goal is to have adequate professional staffing of the Museum to support a full range of educational, curatorial, cultural preservation, and community liaison services—which is a minimum goal for a Museum of this significance. |
| Nanomaterials Testing Center |
Missoula, MT |
University of Montana |
$2,000,000 |
While the development of nanoparticles (NP) is very important to the national economy, it should not be done without simultaneously understanding potential effects on human health. For example, carbon nanotubes have been shown to produce lung granulomas at levels consistent with predicted occupational exposures and carcinogenic potential has also been suggested. Additionally, a highly promising NP has been demonstrated to produce health effects similar to asbestos fibers. To address this need for research on NP health effects, the University of Montana will expand existing research capabilities in the areas of NP testing. The goals of the research program will be to provide validated and comprehensive in vitro and whole animal testing to protect human health. |
| National Mining Sustainability Program |
Butte, MT |
MSE |
$2,600,000 |
The National Mining Sustainability Program will address the effective application of available resources to mitigate the impact of coal and metal mining wastes. The Program will be instrumental in the development of cost-effective technologies to ensure that mining activities, which are so vital to meet the needs of the United States, have minimal environmental impact. The Program incorporates a cohesive group of state and federal agencies, industry, researchers, academia, environmental entities, and technology providers. The synergy of this collective participation results in a comprehensive understanding of the issues and how best to cost effectively address mining wastes to positively impact the sustainability of mining in Montana and the entire United States. |
| Historical Museum at Fort Missoula |
Missoula, MT |
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula |
$1,000,000 |
The purchase and restoration of the historic Fort Missoula Post Headquarters is projected to be a $1.5 million project. This request for $1 million in federal funds will be matched by grant funds and local support. The funds will allow for the 12,000 square foot building to be acquired from the United States Forest Service by Missoula County and renovated for use by the Missoula County Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. |
| Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area |
Helena, MT |
The Nature Conservancy |
$5,000,000 |
Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front easement program 1) proactively protects critical habitat – for “listed” species including grizzly bear, Canada lynx, bull trout, piping plover, gray wolf, and slenderleaf moonwort, 2) supports climate change and conservation objectives, and 3) preserves rural agriculture and cultural heritage economies of Front communities. The project is actively negotiating conservation easement projects for 2009 on approximately 50,000 acres. For the conservation success of the Rocky Mountain Front, necessary LWCF dollars activate matching funds required to move these projects forward. Private donations exceeding $25 million include a $15 million dollar matching grant from the Richard K. Mellon foundation, which is interested in public funding to leverage private donations - the current match is $5.05 non-federal for every $1 federal. |
| Seeley Lake Water and Sewer District Improvements |
Seeley Lake, MT |
Seeley Sewer District |
$4,250,000 |
In order to meet its growing needs, the community of Seeley Lake has developed the Water Treatment Facilities Construction and Improvement Project. Project funds will be used to construct improvements to the drinking water treatment and distribution system in Seeley and to construct a wastewater treatment and collection facility. Planned improvements include: construction of a wastewater treatment and disposal facility; construction of collection lines and connection of homes and businesses; construction of facilities to allow better chemical treatment of drinking water; construction of a water storage tank sized to meet demands and fire suppression supply needs; construction of a pump station; upgrades to currently undersized water mains. |
| Technical Assistance Center for Small Water Systems |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$4,000,000 |
This project provides crucial training that allows small water systems managers to develop the skills necessary to operate their systems in a safe and effective manner and in compliance with all rules and regulations. This training prevents the spread of disease, protects local water supplies and keeps water costs down. This project disseminates water regulations to water system personnel and provides access to training for developing budgets, evaluating the relative risks of alternative actions, assessing infrastructure and managing water systems. |
| Tenderfoot Acquisition |
Helena, MT |
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation |
$4,000,000 |
This project would block up 8200 acres of land owned by the Bair Foundation into Forest Service ownership. The land is checkerboarded with Forest Service lands. The Tenderfoot Creek is a vitally important tributary of the Smith River, a state and nationally popular fishing and floating river. The project will provide significant access for hunting fishing and a wide variety of recreation as well as protecting and enhancing important fish and wildlife habitat. Management efficiency would be enhanced |
| Water Treatment Plant Backup Power |
Billings, MT |
City of Billings |
$660,000 |
This project provides for purchase of 4-5 large portable generators to provide emergency power to critical water facilities, and place Billings in compliance with Federally mandated water system vulnerability standards. Existing equipment is antiquated, and has insufficient capacity to provide needed backup power when the local power grid is interrupted. Significantly at risk is the ability to provide water for fire fighting and water to supply two large regional hospitals. |
| Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement |
Bozeman, MT |
City of Bozeman |
$5,000,000 |
The City’s Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is over 20 years old and needs to be replaced with a larger capacity plant. Many of the plant’s key components, especially the mechanized equipment and building structure, are nearing the end of their useful lives and cannot be replaced. The direct filtration treatment process is marginal when raw water turbidity is high, which results in the need to do frequent filter backwashes dropping the plant efficiency as low as 70%, reducing effective capacity from 15 to 10.5 Million Gallons per Day. Rapid population growth and a more stringent regulatory environment have resulted in water demands that are already at the current WTP capacity during peak use, which is apparent in the early summer when high water turbidity periods overlap with high consumer demand. Bozeman has practiced fiscal responsibility by saving Water Impact Fees since 1995 to accumulate approximately $11 million for the project. |
| Whirling Disease Management Research |
Bozeman, MT |
Whirling Disease Foundation |
$500,000 |
These funds will support continued development of critical tools to manage the threat of whirling disease to Montana’s and the nation's wild and native trout and salmonid resources. Whirling disease, a parasitic infection of trout and salmon, has caused declines in trout populations in many of Montana’s rivers, and new information presented at the recent Whirling Disease Symposium in February 2009, demonstrates that whirling disease is an emerging threat impacting native Cutthroat and Mountain Whitefish populations in Montana and many western states. The whirling disease infection has been identified in the Yellowstone River below Gardiner, Montana and threatens the river’s native Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations and is a compounding threat to Yellowstone Lake cutthroat trout populations in Yellowstone National Park which have declined by over 90%. |
| Working Lands Stewardship |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$1,000,000 |
Private agricultural lands are the cornerstone for Montana’s $2 billion per year agricultural industry, and agricultural landscapes provide many of the amenities that make Montana a special place – open space, abundant wildlife, clean water, and scenic beauty. Private agricultural lands also contain many of Montana’s most significant historical sites. As the catalyst for cooperative conservation across Montana, Working Lands Stewardship will enable landowners, agricultural groups, conservation organizations, and government agencies to work together to sustain Montana’s rural economy, culture, history, and natural resources. |
| Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education |
| Beartooth Hospital Digital Mammography |
Red Lodge, MT |
Beartooth Hospital |
$338,600 |
Beartooth Hospital seeks to use federal funding to purchase digital mammography equipment. Beartooth Hospital currently utilizes film screen (X-ray) technology for mammography. This technology, used since the 1960s, compresses breast tissue through two plates, then uses specialized film to "photograph" the breast tissue. The films are then hand-carried to a radiologist in Billings, resulting in a diagnostic waiting period of several days. Digital mammography has been shown to provide better detection of cancerous breast lesions, particularly those types of cancers that require early detection in order to save lives. |
| Billings Clinic |
Billings, MT |
Billings Clinic |
$3,500,000 |
Facilities and equipment for the Billings Clinic will go towards care for patients as part of ongoing initiatives at the hospital, including health information technology improvements, safeguarding of critical facility access, clinical translational research, and advanced diagnostic imaging. |
| Bioenergy Education Action for Eastern Montana (BEAM) |
Miles City, MT |
Miles Community College |
$803,250 |
To provide training for the emerging green energy workforce in Montana, Miles Community College requests funding for the Bioenergy Education Action for Montana (BEAM) project. The goals of the project are to: develop energy sector workforce training programs, expand bioenergy programming, and increase Eastern Montana public awareness of green energy options. Funding for the BEAM project will provide qualified technicians to meet green energy workforce demands of the future, expand opportunities for oilseed and ethanol production, increase awareness of green energy in our region, as well as serve as a catalyst for economic development of eastern Montana. The project provides expanded options, electives, and added career pathways for students in biofuels and other renewable energy occupations. |
| Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Technology |
Bozeman, MT |
Bozeman Deacones Foundation |
$3,250,000 |
Costly technologies, along with other enormous increases in expenditures, create significant financial hardship for nonprofit health care providers faced with constantly reduced reimbursement options. This project will purchase and install vital technological additions (Linear Accelerator, Computerized Physician Order Entry, Emergency Department Electronic Health Record) for Bozeman Deaconess Hospital (BDH) that will be available to serve the more than 100,000 residents of Southwest Montana. |
| Browning High School |
Browning, MT |
Browning School District 9 |
$11,500,000 |
This request would fund the remainder of the construction and equipping of a new high school in Browning, MT. Prior funding was sufficient to provide classrooms, cafeteria, Administrative offices, site utilities, interior rough graded roadway and parking, a gymnasium and Montana Department of Transportation required Highway 89 Turning Lane upgrade. Items that are not currently funded include: a shop complex (wood, metal, automotive and welding), an auditorium, seating for 2,500 for the gymnasium, finish of the south (visitor) locker rooms, technologies, communication and security, furnishings and equipment complete inside building, sidewalks, asphalt roadways and parking, interior water system pressure upgrades (needed since filter plant is not online as scheduled), irrigation, topsoil, seeding and landscaping. All these additional items would be used not only by the School District but also the community of the Blackfeet Nation, since these items are not currently available on the reservation. |
| Cancer Genetics in Montana |
Helena, MT |
Shodair Children's Hospital |
$4,503,350 |
The Montana Medical Genetics Program, housed at Shodair Hospital, currently provides basic laboratory and clinical genetics services for cancer. Testing in the genetics laboratory is offered to help with diagnosis and identification of appropriate treatment for a variety of cancers, while clinical genetics staff sees patients with a personal or family history of cancer to discuss their risks for developing cancer, how it might be prevented, and whether genetic testing is appropriate. Funding is requested to expand laboratory and clinical services to appropriately meet the needs of cancer patients and their families. |
| CARD Research Infrastructure Development Program |
Libby, MT |
CARD Clinic |
$823,580 |
CARD has been recognized locally and nationally as the conduit for issues related to population screening, health effects and availability to cutting edge research regarding the Libby asbestos amphibole. The CARD Research Infrastructure Development Program is a capacity building project to develop the infrastructure needed to expand research activities that may ultimately find treatments and/or cures for Asbestos Related Disease. CARD is a central focal point for data collection related to its patient population. This data, along with other organizations’ historical or point-in-time data, is vital to clinical and epidemiological research. In 2007, the EPA assisted CARD to develop a database repository to drive epidemiology studies and research. The CARD database is a comprehensive database that is owned, housed and managed by CARD and will be made available to researchers and research institutions. |
| Career Opportunities through Retraining and Education (CORE) |
Kalispell, MT |
Flathead Valley Community College |
$3,200,000 |
The FVCC Career Opportunities through Retraining and Education (CORE) project will provide dislocated workers with immediate opportunities to retrain and learn new skills that are aligned with economic stimulus projects to put them back to work. The CORE project will increase capacity, expand curriculum and training and develop new opportunities in Heavy Equipment Operation, Commercial Truck Driving, Welding and Fabrication, and Diesel Mechanics. |
| Carroll College Civil Engineering |
Helena, MT |
Carroll College |
$500,000 |
With this appropriation request, Carroll College seeks to expand and improve its environmental engineering and science laboratory facilities to allow for increasing enrollment and a more diverse teaching and research experience for students and faculty. In addition to responding to the national priority to increase the number of U.S. citizens with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this initiative will increase the number of professionals that can support Montana’s need to address issues related to an aging infrastructure; environmental protection and restoration; protecting and improving public health; developing renewable energy resources; and accommodating population growth and development. This project is the second phase in the development of the College’s Civil Engineering program. |
| Chemical Dependency Center at Fort Belknap |
Harlem, MT |
Fort Belknap Indian Community Council |
$182,000 |
The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is located in North Central Montana, approximately 50 miles from Havre, Mt and 50 miles from Malta, Mt. The Fort Belknap Community Council manages a CARF accredited outpatient Chemical Dependency Treatment program which serves approximately 200-300 individuals and families per year. Drug and alcohol addiction on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and crimes directly relating to drug and alcohol use have risen significantly within the last three years. Chemical Dependency treatment for individuals and families will reduce crime, social problems, truancy and health issues related to drug and alcohol abuse and addiction. |
| City-County Health Department: Building Capacity |
Helena, MT |
Lewis & Clark County |
$500,000 |
The Lewis and Clark City-County Health Department has outgrown its current facility, and plans to purchase, remodel and move into an old grocery store in the center of Helena, Montana. The Department currently provides health care, dental care, mental health services, case management, immunizations, communicable disease control, emergency preparedness, and health education to 10,000 people every year, on a sliding fee scale. This funding will help equip the department to double the number of people it serves, to 20,000, in the next 5 years. |
| Community Hospital of Anaconda Hospital Campus Expansion |
Anaconda, MT |
Community Hospital of Anaconda |
$1,000,000 |
In the past several years, we have been adding outreach specialist clinics and surgical specialists, alleviating the practical challenges of traveling distances to receive quality medical care. As a result of adding outreach specialist clinics and surgical specialists to meet the medical demands of the area, Anaconda Hospital has outgrown the current building configuration and is in dire need of a facility expansion. Recently, non-clinical functions such as materials management and laundry have been moved offsite to accommodate expansion of the Emergency Room, laboratory, and patient admitting/waiting area. The architectural work for further expansion of our facility has been completed; however, construction plans have been placed on hold due to the recent economic crisis and constriction of the financing markets. This funding will go towards upgrades on existing facilities and equipment. |
| Community Medical Center Facility and Equipment Modernization |
Missoula, MT |
Community Medical Center |
$825,000 |
The Community Medical Center’s (CMC) Facility and Equipment Modernization Initiative will provide critical service upgrades and replacement of an outdated Women and Infant Care Center. CMC is the state’s primary provider of comprehensive high-risk pediatric and newborn services, benefitting a diverse rural population which includes many of the state’s Medicaid recipients. However, inadequate patient area space to meet state and federal guidelines and equipment close to obsolescence hinder CMC’s ability to meet the rapidly increasing demand for obstetrical and pediatric services. Funding will allow CMC to acquire up-to-standard equipment that is comparable to infant care units nationwide. |
| Education for Life! |
Helena, MT |
Jobs for Montana Graduates Foundation |
$534,500 |
In Montana, 15 out of every 100 high school students and 37 out of 100 Native American students leave high school without earning a diploma. Dropouts are more likely than peers who graduate to be unemployed, living in poverty, and receiving public assistance. Jobs for Montana's Graduates will serve students to prevent them from dropping out of school and to help them prepare for careers by gaining the skills and experiences critical to workplace success. |
| Electronic Medical Records Implementation |
Helena, MT |
St. Peter's Hospital |
$469,200 |
St. Peter's Hospital seeks funding for enhancement of thei electronic medical records system. These enhancements will improve the quality and efficiency of medical care. Physicians and other healthcare providers will have appropriate, succinct, and up-to-date patient health information available at the point of care. |
| Electronic Medical Records Project |
Helena, MT |
Lewis & Clark County |
$170,000 |
The Lewis and Clark City-County Health Department and the Cooperative Health Center have active medical records of 20,000 patients. These records are currently in paper form and converting the paper medical records to electronic improves the ability for all in the health care team to coordinate care, which equates to better care for patients. |
| Energy Workforce Training Center |
Billings, MT |
MSU - Billings |
$650,000 |
MSU-Billings continues to field requests by business and industry to create certificate and degree programs to support the needs of the rapidly expanding energy sector. Programs and coursework will focus on areas of light industrial equipment operation, safety training, mining certifications, permitting, environmental issues and the challenges of substance abuse in the workplace. |
| Expansion and Renovation of Tobacco Root Mountains Care Center |
Madison County |
Madison County |
$1,712,542 |
Madison County, the owner-operator of the Tobacco Root Mountains Care Center (TRMCC), a nursing home located in Sheridan, MT, is proposing major renovations to the facility to bring it into compliance with current regulations and make it a modern facility offering not only excellent care, but also high-quality physical surroundings for its residents. The demand for TRMCC’s services is continually growing and it finds itself overcrowded and in the position of turning people in need away. Nursing homes are essential for the care of our elderly and disabled and in order to have viable communities we must ensure that they provide physical conditions that enable staff to provide the highest quality care possible. This project addresses the physical facility deficiencies at TRMCC and will ensure that its residents have safe and comfortable living conditions. |
| Facilities and Equipment for St. John’s Lutheran Hospital |
Libby, MT |
St. John's Lutheran Hospital |
$2,000,000 |
Libby, Montana is “ground zero” for asbestos disease impact; a national spotlight is focused on thousands of people suffering from various illnesses resulting from decades of corporate and government negligence. At the center of this healthcare struggle is St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, a 25-bed critical access provider with a 1952 building that doesn’t meet code, is bursting at the seams, and cannot feasibly be expanded any further. To keep meeting the needs of asbestos victims and an aging population, St. John’s desperately needs a new hospital facility. Requested funding will go towards new equipment and technology upgrades. |
| Flathead County Library Main Branch |
Kalispell, MT |
Flathead County |
$1,000,000 |
To rectify a growing inability to adequately serve the constituents of Flathead County and surrounding areas of northwest Montana, the FCLS seeks to replace an antiquated, inefficient facility with a new Main Library of 55,000 square feet. Based on a 2003 space needs assessment (updated 2006), the new facility will benefit all the communities in Flathead County by providing materials, early literacy programs, teen programs, and computer access. |
| Community Health Integration Demonstration Project |
Statewide |
Montana Hospital Association |
$800,000 |
This demonstration project was conceived by critical access hospitals (CAH) in Montana to address trends that threaten their ability to continue to meet the health care needs of the residents in their communities. The project is aimed at the smallest, low-volume facilities in Montana’s sparsely-populated communities. The goal is to develop and test new models for providing health care services to ensure continued access to these services and better integrate acute care, extended care and other essential services. This project was authorized in the 2008 Medicare bill. |
| Gallatin/Park County Child and Family Behavioral Health and Crisis Facility |
Bozeman, MT |
Youth Dynamics |
$500,000 |
In southwest Montana, no behavioral health treatment facility exists to serve both boys and girls, and their families. Nor are there crisis services for children. In November 2008, a legislative mental health study was released. In the study, Montana residents, including those from Gallatin and Park Counties, identified needed behavioral services for children and youth. The top two were crisis intervention, and early identification and treatment. This facility, to be constructed in Bozeman, will provide 24/7 in-patient and outpatient services to children and families in Gallatin and Park counties. The project specifically addresses needs identified in the legislative study. Funding will go towards facilities, equipment needs, training for staff, and other critical needs for this program. |
| Health Care Informatics Education and Workforce Development |
Butte, MT |
Montana Tech |
$1,250,000 |
The adoption of Health Information Technology (HIT) will be accelerated and improved by expanding academic health information systems education and training programs as part of the economic stimulus package. As an institution, Montana Tech is increasing its emphasis on Health Care generally, by expanding its nursing programs and also through a near-term plan to renovate its former Petroleum Engineering Building and create a new Health Sciences Building. This emphasis is also driving Montana Tech's HCI Department, which has one of the most mature undergraduate degree programs in the Nation and is well-positioned to help meet the demand for HIT professionals. Montana Tech has shown early leadership in this area, providing graduates who work for all the major hospital and clinic systems across the state of Montana and beyond. Virtually all HCI graduates from Montana Tech are employed in HIT. |
| Health Care Pathway |
Billings, MT |
MSU - Billings |
$350,000 |
This project fills the need of training health care providers at a time when the shortage of health care workers is a national trend, driven by a growing demand for health services, an increasingly aging population and a shrinking supply of workers. The industry is unable to meet all these demand for health care in a time when medical technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Funding will support curriculum/program development, purchase of necessary software/hardware and medical equipment; program staffing and employment; program startup and development costs; and facilities modification/renovation to accommodate applied experiential work at cooperative training facilities at the College of Technology/local hospitals including audio-visual, on-line conferencing capacity. |
| Health Information Technology for Critical Access Hospitals |
Great Falls, MT |
Benefis |
$500,000 |
Funds will provide clinic-based Electronic Health Records (EHR) and hospital-based Health Information Technology (HIT) hardware and software in rural facilities throughout Northcentral Montana, including Big Sandy, Lewistown, Shelby, Fort Benton, White Sulphur Springs, Malta, Choteau, and Chester. |
| Hi Line Retirement Center Renovation and Expansion |
Malta, MT |
Hi Line Retirement Center |
$500,000 |
The purpose of this project is to address deficiencies in the center's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and the Nurse Call System (NCS). The project will construct an assisted living unit, kitchen facilities, expand the dining and activities area, and install new HVAC and Nurse Call systems. The estimated cost of this project, which will serve 72 long-term care, assisted living, and independent living residents, is $5,073,076. The project is a justifiable use of taxpayer funds because it will enable a critical community facility to comply with current codes while maintaining its ability to affordably serve its residents and their families. |
| Hospital Equipment Purchase/Generator Upgrade |
Hardin, MT |
Big Horn Hospital Association |
$696,368 |
Big Horn Hospital has a critical need to purchase and install a new, upgraded power generator. The current generator serving the Hospital is approximately twenty-eight (28) years old and presenting challenging obstacles for part replacement and maintenance. The aforementioned generator provides electricity for only approximately twenty (20%) percent of the Hospital leaving critical patient rooms and ancillary direct patient care areas of the Hospital without electricity. The generator upgrade project proposal will replace the outdated generator with duplex/twin 300 kilo-watt generators capable of delivering electrical energy to the entire Hospital physical plant. |
| Hot Springs Medical Clinic |
Hot Springs, MT |
Sanders County Community Development Corporation |
$823,000 |
Sanders County requests funds to for facilities and equipment as part of the planned replacement of the Hot Springs Medical Clinic. The clinic is supported by a mil levy which yields about $13,000 per year so the Eastern Sanders County Hospital Board cannot afford to fully fund the entire replacement project. The area has low income (median $17,477), high poverty (35.8%) and high unemployment. Although the current building has an unstable foundation, uneven floor, poor heating and cooling, inadequate space and badly needs replace, the clinic serve 3600 patients a year. |
| Kalispell Regional Medical Center NICU |
Kalispell, MT |
Northwest Healthcare |
$700,000 |
Northwest Healthcare, Inc. serves a 15,000 square mile area In the past, infants born in our service area and in need of newborn intensive care unit (NICU) nursing services were transported hundreds of miles away from their families and communities to Missoula, Great Falls, Spokane or Salt Lake City. To better support the needs of rural Montanans, this project seeks to expand and completely equip a permanent 10-bed newborn intensive care unit (NICU) to allow infant, mother and family members to be together during this critical phase of care. This unit affords rural patients from northwest and north central Montana immediate, convenient, affordable access to NICU services. |
| Libby Elementary School |
Libby, MT |
Libby School District |
$11,274,000 |
In the 1950s, Asa Wood Elementary School in Libby, Montana, was constructed using vermiculate insulation in the hollow cavity of the cement block walls. On February 22, 2008, during snow removal, a three-inch hole leaking asbestos was discovered at Asa Wood, resulting in children’s accidental contact to the asbestos during recess. The EPA has refused to remove the hazard from the walls of our schools claiming that the insulation does not pose a health risk, unless it is disturbed; the recent incident has reaffirmed the need to protect children and community from potential exposure to vermiculite asbestos insulation. The school district/community does not have the resources available to finance the construction of a new elementary school due to population decline, high unemployment, and extreme poverty rates. |
| Living Well with a Disability for Veterans |
Missoula, MT |
University of Montana |
$750,000 |
Researchers at The University of Montana developed and demonstrated the cost effectiveness of the Living Well with a Disability program. The Living Well with a Disability program has been widely recognized as an effective community-based health promotion program for reducing secondary conditions experienced by adults with disabilities. Funding is requested for a three-year project to extend this proven, community-based health promotion program to veterans with disabilities through partnerships between veteran’s programs and local community-based programs (i. e., centers for independent living). In the first year, the program will focus on adapting existing materials to address veterans issues and building the capacity of Montana agencies to deliver the program. |
| Mobile Cancer Screening Unit |
Great Falls, MT |
Benefis |
$500,000 |
This project will provide a mobile cancer screening service to currently underserved populations in Northcentral Montana. An appropriation would support the purchase of capital equipment: digital mammography technology and a vehicle to provide on-site screening in a broad rural corridor, including four Indian Reservations. |
| Montana Pediatric Project |
Billings, MT |
St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation |
$950,000 |
St. Vincent Healthcare established the only pediatric intensive care (PICU) program in Montana/Wyoming in 2008. The PICU program has served over 100 children to date, using telemedicine networks to connect with other hospitals throughout the region. The goal of the program is to monitor and care for pediatric patients in their home hospitals in the fields of emergency pediatric neurology, pediatric critical care, maternal-fetal medicine, pediatric emergency services and pediatric oncology. |
| New Hospital Equipement Systems for Barrett Hospital and Healthcare |
Dillon, MT |
Barrett Hospital and Healthcare |
$1,635,662 |
Barrett Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital that provides care to over 16,000 residents in 23 communities across 16,000 square miles. The closest tertiary/referral hospital, weather permitting, is over one hour away. The Hospital seeks funding to purchase a CT scanner, mammography system, ultrasound system, and endoscopy tower system. |
| Po'Ka Systems of Care Childrens Mental Health |
Browning, MT |
Blackfeet Nation |
$1,230,244 |
This project will provide valuable youth mental health services to Blackfeet youth, particularly addressing psychiatric needs and family counseling. |
| Ranch Facilities Technology Upgrades |
Billings, MT |
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch |
$938,000 |
To maintain close contact with the parents, guardians and local juvenile courts on a weekly basis throughout Montana, Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch must modernize its technologies and hardware to “bridge the digital divide.” These necessary technology improvements at the Ranch’s seven locations (Billings, Lewistown, Dillon, Livingston, Bozeman, Roundup and Hardin) will help the organization to provide necessary family-focused treatment. Such services are only possible through computer and telecommunications improvements, and video and internet conferencing technology installation. |
| Rocky Boy Health Board Replacement Equipment for Tribal Health Care Facility |
Box Elder, MT |
Rocky Boy Health Board |
$800,000 |
The Chippewa Cree Tribe and the Rocky Boy Health Board constructed a replacement healthcare facility on the reservation two (2) years ago and borrowed funds from lending institutions and through the acquisition of a USDA low-interest loan. The Tribe and Healthboard constructed the reservation healthcare facility because of the great need for it and the current facility was deteriorating. The funds for the replacement equipment will greatly assist the Tribe and healthboard in providing the essential medical care to reservation members who utilize the healthcare facility. |
| Rural Health in America: Pharmacist Patient Care and Drug Therapy |
Missoula, MT |
University of Montana |
$360,000 |
The UM Skaggs School of Pharmacy (SSOP) is a leader in innovative change not only in the academic setting, but in extending these competencies to practicing pharmacists throughout the state of Montana and nationally. The SSOP will construct programs using collegial and collaborative drug therapy management methods to work in concert with and under the auspices of physicians to improve drug therapy in the difficult-to-access populations. Objective 1) will be to improve the health care of the rural American by decreasing the risk for adverse drug events and medication errors using clinical pharmacists to manage medications. Objective 2) will be to improve the outcomes of the intended effect of the drugs. Objective 3) will be to demonstrate conclusively the value of the pharmacist in health and direct patient care such that they can independently bill for their cognitive services. |
| Skilled Trades and Technology Training |
Billings, MT |
MSU - Billings |
$350,000 |
The economy of southcentral and Eastern Montana is increasingly dependant on collaborative efforts to maximize the outcomes of the robust economic sectors such as construction trades, automotive repair and energy development. This initiative will develop a reliable pool of trained workers to immediately increase productivity for Montana companies, provide a structured environment for skills development and workforce training and provide a clear path to enter high-paying skilled trades and craft careers. Career pathways would be established linking secondary education, post-secondary education and employment that will result in higher wages and contribute to economic development in Montana. |
| Strengthening Montana's Mental Health Support Networks |
Anaconda, MT |
AWARE |
$565,629 |
Providing mental healthcare in Montana presents many barriers. Montana consistently ranks highly in national suicide rates. Last year, AWARE began implementing a state of the art statewide video conferencing/telepsychiatry network. This project will continue and expand upon this work by expanding access to mental healthcare in rural Montana communities. Specifically, funding will allow expansion of the videoconferencing network to additional communities, as well as assist with recruitment and retention of psychiatrists. |
| Telemedicine Project |
Billings, MT |
Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council |
$385,000 |
The project would develop and provide interactive video technology and IT infrastructure for the delivery of telehealth services and distance learning capabilities to the Montana reservations. The system would also improve the quantity, quality, and access to medical information and professionals, continuing medical education and educational opportunities for healthcare professionals in those regions would also be better available. |
| The MAPS Media Institute |
Florence, MT |
Florence Prevor Rosten Foundation |
$400,000 |
This public/private partnership provides a venue for students in the Bitterroot Valley to engage in Media Arts as part of their educational experience. Participating students work with MAPS staff to learn valuable presentation and technology skills as part of a curriculum that delivers youth-force training, economic development and a return on investment in in both human and real capital. Work done by the students helps them to think creatively and excel in the digital age. |
| Tobacco Valley Community Center Senior Citizens Home |
Eureka, MT |
Tobacco Valley Senior Citizens Association |
$300,000 |
The current facility has served the community well since the early 1970s. Realizing the limitations in the existing center, the organization is now looking into options for future growth by pursuing a new facility. 3.7 acres and $50,000 has currently been donated towards this new facility, which when complete will enhance the services that are offered and secure the future for the Senior Citizen program in the Tobacco Valley. |
| Western Montana Telemedicine Network |
Missoula, MT |
Saint Patrick Hospital |
$1,800,000 |
Federal, State, and local leaders in the health care arena agree that health information technology and the ability for providers to share patient information will improve health care quality; prevent medical errors; reduce health care costs; decrease paperwork; and expand access to affordable care. To meet these goals, Saint Patrick Hospital officials propose the creation of a permanent, shareable, web-based, secure, HIPAA-compliant Electronic Health Record system that will connect all hospital information systems, clinics, and physicians in Western Montana. Using web and communications technologies currently available, this open system will allow the sharing of patient data among a variety of independent health care providers with different data systems and medical record numbers. |
| Youth Employment and Workforce Training Program |
Harlem, MY |
Fort Belknap Indian Community Council |
$947,495 |
This project will accomplish three things for Fort Belknap youth: Raise Self Esteem by having the youth be earning a paycheck which will enable them to buy their own school clothes; Contract Compliance - The Tribal Council through their 477 Employment & Training Program addresses the youth components; Community Collaboration - youth to elders, youth to youth, youth to job site supervisors. |
| Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies |
| Fort Harrison Fire Station |
Helena |
Montana National Guard |
$1,247,000 |
The Montana Army National Guard Fort Harrison Fire Station is a 4167 square foot building, which was constructed in 1995. It does not provide adequate bays for new HEMMT Fire Trucks and appropriate storage for related and unique firefighting equipment at the Fort Harrison Fire Station. The proposed project would construct an addition to the existing building, which would remedy the current need to provide adequate bays for new HEMMT Fire Trucks and appropriate storage for related and unique firefighting equipment at the Fort Harrison Fire Station. |
| Fort Harrison Troop Medical Clinic Addition |
Helena |
Montana National Guard |
$1,749,000 |
Increased volume of Periodic Health Assessments has resulted in drastic overcrowding of waiting areas, exam areas, laboratory space and administrative spaces at the Fort Harrison Troop Medical Facility. This present condition can compromise soldier privacy and compliance with HIPAA requirements. These funds would go towards design and construction of an addition to the current facility, to assure a high level of service to soldiers. |
| Malmstrom Fitness Center |
Malmstrom |
Malmstrom AFB |
$9,900,000 |
The existing fitness center, constructed in 1957, does not adequately satisfy personnel or infrastructure demands. Malmstrom's active Air Force and Air National Guard Member (total: 4,600) require daily PT to meet the demands of today's expeditionary climate. This project would construct a fitness center including indoor swimming pool, group exercise area, Health and Wellness Center, administrative offices, and racquetball courts. This project meets AF Fitness Center Design Standards and DOD force protection standards. |
| Malmstrom Replace Military Working Dogs Kennel Facility |
Malmstrom |
Malmstrom AFB |
$2,450,000 |
The existing Military Working Dogs facility was constructed in 1955, with an addition in 1957. It is rated condition code 2, substandard. Of particular concern are sanitary problems, overall structural integrity, and a training area that is open and exposed to harsh weather. This project would construct a new support and administration building, a new kennel facility, and demolish the old facility. The new facility will meet all needs for dog training for patrol and detection that take place on the grounds. |
| Miles City Readiness Center |
Miles City |
Montana National Guard |
$14,260,000 |
The existing Miles City Readiness Center is 8,481 square feet and was built for an Armored Cavalry Unit in 1957. As a result of Force Structure Transformation, the current unit occupying this facility is the 260th Engineer Company (-), for which the facility is improperly designed and grossly undersized. Design authority was granted in FY 2006 and we will be able to execute construction in FY 2010, four years ahead of the programmed 2014 date. The State of Montana has entered into a 35 year lease (renewable to 99 years) for the land. The project is currently at 35% design, but has received 100% design authority. The requested construction funds would complete the project. |
| Upgrade Weapons Storage Area |
Malmstrom |
Malmstrom AFB |
$10,600,000 |
This project will add conventional explosives storage igloos and a maintenance facility, as well as utility infrastructure upgrades, as part of an upgrade of the existing Weapons Storage Area. Infrastructure, pavements, and drainage will be upgraded or replaced in the project. The current WSA, which was constructed in the 1950s, directly supports the mission of providing combat-ready ICBMs. |
| Transportation, Housing and Urban Development |
| Alkali Creek Road Stabilization |
Billings, MT |
City of Billings |
$4,800,000 |
Alkali Creek Road is a major arterial roadway in the Billings Heights. Due to creek erosion, the roadway ebankment has been undermined and is in failure. This is a heavily used road and needs the failed section repaired in a timely manner. |
| Black Eagle Road Reconstruction |
Great Falls, MT |
Great Falls Development Authority |
$1,500,000 |
This funding would be used to completely reconstruct and pave Black Eagle Road which is located in Cascade County. The project as proposed would involve 2.2 miles of what is now gravel and deteriorating asphalt roadway (and includes safety concerns at the northern intersection) and would include design, engineering and construction to include but not be limited to new road bed, fabric, gravel, and asphalt surface to bring the road to an industrial standard. Black Eagle Road Infrastructure Project will spur additional industry sector growth by assisting Community partners with public infrastructure investment necessary to attract private investment. After years of slow or no growth the existing local government tax base cannot support the extent of investment required to bring growth to the area without assistance from other sources. |
| Community Veterans Center |
Helena, MT |
Rocky Mountain Development Council |
$400,000 |
Montana's fourteen outpatient veteran's clinics scattered across the state often find themselves providing medical aid and mental health services to homeless veterans who are simply unable to regain their footing using the patchwork of outpatient services in small towns. This center would provide transitional housing for up to forty homeless veterans, as well as comprehensive medical and mental health services and vocational training. |
| Cregg Lane/Wyoming Street Connector and Silver Park |
Missoula, MT |
City of Missoula |
$7,000,000 |
The FY 2010 appropriation for this project will fund a critical east/west connector street south of the Clark Fork River, connecting two major north/south arterials, Orange and Russell Streets through a low income neighborhood and build a 14.5 acre park to serve the area. This is a central city brownfields that was industrial and is now low and moderate income residential with remnant industrial uses, vacant and underutilized property. This park and critical piece of infrastructure will create the opportunity to redevelop the 45 acre sawmill site, reduce cut through traffic in existing neighborhoods, reduce traffic on S. Third Street, provide adequate access to the new $10,000,000 civic stadium and rebuild an aging railroad bridge which the City is obligated to do in order to gain a permanent right-of-way under the trestle. Redevelopment of the sawmill site will provide up to 900 housing units in the low income neighborhood. |
| Deer Lodge Multi-Use Food Processing Facility |
Missoula, MT |
Montana Food Bank Network |
$1,000,000 |
The Montana Food Bank Network’s Canning Program at Montana State Prison is a perfect starting place for developing Montana's food processing infrastructure. Funding for this project will go towards a new state-of-the-art facility that can provide employment for several paid employees to run the processes with inmates to support the operation through a workforce training program. This facility will be an important tool in working to meet the food processing needs for Montana agricultural producers, along with infrastructure being developed through the Montana Food Innovation Network and the Farm to Table program. |
| Downtown Bozeman Explosion Recovery Project |
Bozeman, MT |
City of Bozeman |
$5,000,000 |
On March 5, 2009, a natural gas explosion in Bozeman's historic downtown caused physical, economic, and cultural damage to the heart of the community. The explosion destroyed four historic buildings and damaged three others; all buildings are in the Bozeman Main Street Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The loss of destroyed and damaged businesses resulted in the layoff of nearly 100 employees and required evacuation of nearly 10 blocks, with many businesses forced to close and board-up broken windows for several days. Downtown is considered to be one of Bozeman’s most important assets. The slowing economy, coupled with the disaster, may run business owners aground. The City is seeking assistance for a construction fund that will assist property owners rebuild. |
| East Billings Urban Renewal District Redevelopment |
Billings, MT |
Big Sky EDA |
$1,500,000 |
This redevelopment project will stimulate economic renewal by continuing preliminary development activities for the East Downtown Billings Tax Increment Finance District (TIFD). This endeavor will lead to improvements in outdated or non-existent infrastructure and assemblage of land to facilitate mixed use development between the downtown core and MetraPark, a 10,000 seat exposition center that draws patrons from a multi-state region surrounding Billings, MT. |
| Green Airport Terminal |
Butte, MT |
Bert Mooney Airport Authority |
$3,500,000 |
As part of the Bert Mooney Airport’s upcoming Terminal Building Remodel and Expansion project, the community wishes to reduce energy consumption of the building through a combination of improving building efficiency and generating clean alternative power on-site. The goal of the project is to generate, on-site, all the clean power needed for the remodeled building, thus reducing costs and making the facility more competitive in attracting new flights. |
| Hardin Railroad Spur Upgrade |
Hardin, MT |
Two Rivers Authority, City of Hardin |
$4,000,000 |
This railroad spur is vital to development of fossil fuel resources in the region. Utilization of the rail spur to develop those resources will result in a major increase in tax income for Hardin, local schools, Big Horn county and Montana. Development of those resources will also reduce the high unemployment rates in Hardin, the Crow Reservation and Big Horn County. This construction project is to upgrade 11,000 feet of track on a spur line, construct a new 1,500 foot turnout from the BNSF mainline to the spur track, new construction of 2,935 feet of track next to the existing track including crossing nine water courses including crossing a drainage that has an 84 foot timber bridge at present. |
| HomeWORD's Affordable Housing and Community Development Initiative |
Missoula, MT |
HomeWORD |
$1,000,000 |
In its continuing efforts to provide affordable housing that spurs local economic development and provides opportunities for Montana’s working families, homeWORD has developed a model project for the region that will incorporate a high performance design (green building) with a comprehensive plan for community development in the city of Missoula. The project will include: affordable rental housing, a training center for adult education; on-site training for the growing renewable energy industry; a community center for the neighborhood; and small business development opportunities. This development will be situated on a large parcel of land near the city core that supports a project that is comprehensive in scope. homeWORD is currently building 35 new units of affordable housing |
| I-15 Custer Avenue Interchange and Montana Rail Link Overpass Structures |
Helena, MT |
Montana DOT |
$15,000,000 |
This project will accelerate the development of the Custer Avenue Interchange on Interstate 15 and a rail overpass structure. The Custer Avenue Interchange will serve a rapidly growing commercial area of Helena. It will address significant traffic congestion in the area, enhance emergency response, and relieve pressure on non-arterial links in the city's transportation network. |
| I-90 East Belgrade Interchange |
Belgrade, MT |
Montana DOT |
$15,000,000 |
Gallatin Field is the second busiest airport in the state and as such is certainly one of the most critical economic drivers in all of southwestern Montana. A New interchange East of Belgrade at the Gallatin Field Airport to improve capacity on I-90 and surrounding state highways. Finishing this project will open the door for increased development of a commercial center near the airport and improve economic development in the County. |
| Liberty County Senior Center and Bus Garage |
Chester, MT |
Liberty County Council on Aging |
$494,350 |
The current Liberty County Senior Citizens Center is located in a small building on Main Street in Downtown Chester. For the past several years, the Center has struggled with the challenge of providing vital services in a confined space to a growing number of elderly residents. The Center’s service area not only includes Liberty County, but also extends east to the Town of Inverness in Hill County and west to the Town of Galata in Toole County. The project involves the construction of an 8,200 sq. ft senior citizens center and garage for the Liberty County Council on Aging. The project will also include the purchase of commercial kitchen equipment and furnishings for the center and garage. |
| Livingston Railroad Grade Separation Undercrossing |
Livingston, MT |
City of Livingston |
$921,000 |
The City of Livingston, Montana, is requesting funding to undertake preparations to design and construct a grade separated undercrossing project. Upon completion of final construction, the Livingston Railroad Grade Separation Undercrossing project will prevent the imminent failure of a major transportation corridor (5th Street at-grade crossing), and enhance public safety response times to a heavily populated (and continuing to grow) area of the community by at least 30 seconds. In addition, the proposed Undercrossing would provide access to pedestrian/bicycle traffic that would connect to Livingston’s existing sidewalk and trail infrastructure. The proposal Undercrossing location was identified based upon growth patterns, traffic pattern analysis, and elevation of the Railroad to nearby transportation routes. |
| Madison County Courthouse/ADA Upgrade & Addition |
Virginia City, MT |
Madison County |
$1,000,000 |
The existing Madison County Courthouse lacks the handicapped accessibility to all departments and floors of the courthouse, ADA accessible rest rooms, proper fire egress from the upper floors, and adequate space for county historical records. In order to provide better service to county residents, the county is seeking funding to perform important upgrades, particularly to ensure that the facility is ADA-compliant. |
| Milltown/Two Rivers State Park Project Transportation Improvements |
Missoula, MT |
Milltown Superfund Site Redevelopment Working Group |
$5,476,320 |
The Milltown/Two Rivers State Park Project requests $5.476 million to develop the pedestrian trail and bridge facilities for a new public park at the Confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers as envisioned by the Milltown Superfund Site Redevelopment Working Group. The pedestrian trail and bridge projects will serve as vital transportation links between the communities of West Riverside, Bonner and Missoula, providing non-motorized transportation services to the highest density area in Missoula County and the low to moderate income population in the West Riverside, Milltown and Bonner communities. |
| Mountain Line Bus Replacement |
Missoula, MT |
Mountain Line |
$1,035,000 |
This request, which has been previously submitted but not yet granted, is necessary for Mountain Line to replace buses which are between ten and twelve years old, exceed 300,000 miles and consequently have high maintenance costs. |
| Pantry Partners Food Bank Building Project |
Missoula, MT |
Pantry Partners Food Bank |
$600,000 |
Funding for this request will go towards construction of a new facility to house the Pantry Partners Food Bank in Stevensville, MT, as well as towards equipment and outfitting of the facility to meet the needs of low- and moderate-income families in the Bitterroot Valley. |
| Park County Transportation Improvement Project |
Livingston, MT |
Park County |
$1,400,000 |
Park County is requesting this funding to complete the following local transportation projects: installing safer sidewalks around Gardiner School, replacing the 9th Street Island Bridge, repaving Pine Creek Road, repaving Rock Creek Road, and repaving Willow Creek Road. These projects are shovel ready, and address the most critical transportation infrastructure safety needs of the County. |
| Shelby Intermodal Hub |
Shelby, MT |
Shelby |
$4,400,000 |
Construction of a rail spur line will give the Port of Northern Montana ample track to handle full shuttle and intermodal trains as well as full-length container trains, which will substantially increase the number of outbound freight carloads/year and diversify outbound freight commodity. This project will boost the State economy by increasing the volume of outbound/inbound freight shipments in Montana while reducing costs on those shipments. There currently is no Intermodal Hub in the State of Montana which causes inflated costs and slows the movement of goods to and from the State. |
| Sunlight Business Park |
Whitehall, MT |
Jefferson Local Development Corporation |
$250,000 |
The Sunlight Business Park, five miles west of Whitehall Montana, is a planned 200 acre light industrial and high-tech business park operated and managed by the Jefferson Local Development Corporation. With this new public infrastructure, new businesses can grow and diversify the economy away from the current natural resource based economy. The Sunlight Business Park will accommodate smaller, locally owned companies that want their own buildings as well as larger corporations. |
| Transit Bus Replacements |
Great Falls, MT |
Great Falls Transit District |
$1,035,000 |
The Great Falls Transit District has a fleet of 19 buses. Fifteen of these buses have exceeded their useful life by many years. The upkeep of these buses is costing the district a disportionate amount of our operational budget. There is no other outlet to replace these buses outside of this requested appropriation |
| US 93 Corridor and Kalispell Bypass |
Western Montana |
Montana DOT |
$15,000,000 |
This project will go towards the ongoing reconstruction of sections of the Highway 93 Corridor in Western Montana. Highway 93 is the busiest non-interstate highway in Montana, and improvements are necessary in many locations along the route to ensure safety and traffic volume needs are met. Additionally, funding for this project will be eligible for use as part of the ongoing effort to fund a bypass for Highway 93 traffic around downtown Kalispell. |
| Watson's Childrens Shelter Safety Initiative |
Missoula, MT |
Watson's Childrens Shelter |
$750,000 |
The Watson Children’s Shelter (WCS) is Western Montana’s only emergency children shelter, serving nearly 100 children per year who escape from abuse, neglect, abandonment, family crisis, and other traumatic situations. The substantial population growth in Western Montana coupled with the subsequent increase in methamphetamine abuse, poverty, and related issues has significantly increased the need for children-oriented emergency shelter services. In order to continue to fulfill its mission of providing a safe haven for all children in crisis in Western Montana and meet increased demand, WCS plans to construct a second facility beginning in the fall of 2009. This facility will allow WCS to double its capacity and provide shelter service for an estimated 150 children annually. |
| West Fork/Ski Run Road Reconstruction Project |
Red Lodge, MT |
Carbon County |
$5,000,000 |
The West Fork Road and Ski Run Road provide access to Red Lodge Mountain Resort (RLMR), which averages over 102,000 skier days per year, as well as over 10,000 acres of public lands in the Custer National Forest and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area, and is the sole access to over private 250 homes with another 200+ parcels. The road is in very poor condition and does not meet current road design standards. With an average daily (adt) count of 2,000+ vehicles per day, the current road way creates a significant detriment to public safety, and reliable access to these areas, particularly during events such as the 2008 Cascade Fire. |
| Energy and Water Development |
| Bitterroot Irrigation District Siphon Replacement |
Corvallis, MT |
Bitterroot Irrigation District |
$4,880,000 |
The Bitter Root Irrigation District, Ravalli County, Montana, provides irrigation water to 1,375 irrigators on 16,665 acres along a canal system over 70 miles long and is vital to the local economy. Funding for this projec would replace a 5,654 foot-long steel pipeline constructed in 1909 which is used to transport almost all of BRID’s water and which suffers from structural integrity, leaking and potential failure. Failure of any major element could result in a total loss of irrigation water and damage to the river system, wetlands, and adjacent U.S. highway. |
| Cartersville Fish Passage Ecological Restoration Project |
Cartersville, MT |
The Nature Conservancy |
$300,000 |
In conjunction with approved and/or completed projects on the Yellowstone and Tongue Rivers, improving fish passage at Cartersville Diversion Dam will reconnect the maximum amount of habitat for warm water fish in the Yellowstone River system in Montana. With completion of fish passage at Intake Diversion Dam (now at the EIS stage of development,) opening Cartersville will provide continuous connected habitat for the endangered pallid sturgeon or other warm water species of concern throughout a total of 760 river miles in the warm water sections of the Yellowstone and its tributaries |
| Center for Zero Emissions Research and Technology |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$10,000,000 |
The U.S.’s heavy reliance on foreign energy sources is an obvious national security issue that could be ameliorated if our ample national coal reserves could be used with a less damaging effect on the environment. U.S. coal reserves are projected to be capable of providing more than 200 years of the nation’s energy needs, but current technologies do not sufficiently reduce or eliminate greenhouse gases and their impact on the environments. The Center for Zero Emissions Research and Technology focuses on developing and validating zero emission technologies for clean energy production from fossil fuels. This would provide an economic benefit in coal and power producing states , reduce reliance on foreign energy sources, and contribute to a better environment. |
| City of Glendive Flood Plain Project |
Glendive, MT |
Dawson County |
$900,000 |
Glendive's levee was built in 1959 and constructed with the Corps of Engineers oversight and approval to provide flood protection for this area. In the 1960’s, Interstate 94 was constructed including a bridge that spans the Yellowstone just downstream of Glendive. According to the Corps of Engineers, construction of this bridge created an obstacle that is ten to twenty feet higher than the river's natural floodplain. As a result, over thirty percent of the City of Glendive lies in the floodplain. This geographic area includes a large portion of the town's homes and businesses, and relocation of all of these homes and businessse is impossible. Funding is requested to study alternatives including construction of a bridge for the Interstate or raising the existing levee. |
| Clark Fork River Revitalization Project |
Missoula |
City of Missoula |
$637,000 |
This downtown riverbank restoration project will showcase how innovative private redevelopment of urban brownfields can be enabled and augmented by public investment in restoration of degraded river banks and addressing flooding concerns while providing the public with recreation and trails amenities. Currently, the Clark Fork River’s banks through downtown Missoula are in poor condition from a century of neglect and inappropriate stabilization such as use of concrete and asphalt, car bodies, and other unsafe materials. The project presents a multi-faceted opportunity to: address deteriorating banks and deficiencies in existing levees; restore native riparian vegetation to improve water quality; create river access for the public; extend and improve existing public pedestrian trails and riverfront parks; and to introduce modern methods of removing irrigation water that do not impact proper river flow. |
| Demonstration System for Capturing Geothermal Energy from Mine Waters Beneath Butte |
Butte, MT |
Montana Tech |
$550,000 |
Montana Tech’s new Natural Resources Building, which is scheduled to open in early 2010, offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate a geothermally based climate-control system. Butte, Montana, like many other mining towns, is underlain by now-inactive water-filled mines that form a proven, sustainable energy resource that has been largely ignored by planners and developers. Installation of a system in the Natural Resources Building that uses warm mine waters would document the energy savings of the application, promote wider use of the technology in Montana and nationally, and provide training to Montana Tech’s engineering students. Funding from multiple sources (State, campus, and private) cover the planning and actual construction of the building, but additional funds of $550,000 are necessary to complete installation of the system that would allow recovery of low-cost heat from mine waters to replace fossil fuels. |
| Fort Peck Cabin Conveyances |
Glasgow, MT |
Fort Peck Lake Association |
$2,500,000 |
Charles M Russell National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2000 authorizes The USACE in concurrence with the USFWS to transfer 392 lots into private ownership, with the proceeds of the lot sales to be used to acquire land inside and adjacent to the CMR National Wildlife Refuge. This funding will go towards functions the Corps must perform prior to selling this land to current lessees. These activities include surveys, sanitation review, and appraisals to render the sites suitable for transfer. |
| Fort Peck Dry Prairie Rural Water System |
Poplar, MT |
Fort Peck Tribes and Dry Prairie Rural Water Authority |
$50,526,000 |
For construction of Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water System and the Dry Prairie Rural Water System as authorized by PL 106-382, FY2010 funding will finance ongoing contracts for construction of water treatment plant and construction of treated water pipelines from the water treatment plant to Poplar and Wolf Point. These lines are needed to deliver treated water on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and for construction of branch lines in the Dry Prairie Project. The project will stimulate the economy with the addition of 303 full-time jobs in construction, contract administration and operation, maintenance and replacement of facilities. |
| High Temperature Electrochemistry Center (HiTech) |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$5,000,000 |
The mission of the Department of Energy’s Fossil Energy (FE) Research and Development (R&D) program is to enhance U.S. economic and energy security by: (1) managing and performing energy-related research that promotes the efficient and environmentally sound production and use of fossil fuels; (2) partnering with industry and others to advance clean and efficient fossil energy technologies toward commercialization in the U.S. and international markets, and: (3) supporting the development of information and policy options that benefit the public by ensuring access to adequate supplies of affordable and clean energy. Hi-Tech seeks to address the challenge to improve fuel cell design so that it has better performance and reliability. |
| Intake Irrigation Diversion Fish Passage |
Intake, MT |
The Nature Conservancy |
$2,000,000 |
Intake Irrigation Diversion Fish Passage project would be a major component in saving the pallid sturgeon from extinction in the Upper Missouri River Basin. The fish was listed as endangered in 1991 and only about 150 native individual fish remain. The fish passage program is the single best hope for establishing a self sustaining population of pallid sturgeon in this priority recovery area. The project would have a secondary benefit of improving the 100-year old Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Districts infrastructure. |
| Montana Algal BioDiesel Initiative |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$500,000 |
Algae, third generation or advanced biofuels, use photosynthesis to transform carbon dioxide and sunlight into oil. Algae can grow in water and on land, even land not suitable for food production. Even CO2-rich emissions from fossil fuel (coal) burning powerplants can be used as feedstocks to support the growth of algae that produces biodiesel. The effective use of high temperature CO2-rich exhaust gases (including the geothermal environments in Yellowstone) also produce algae that can flourish at high ambient temperatures. Currently, there are both practical and economic obstacles to increased use of biofuels from algae, but early research is promising. The funds requested would be used to advance the development of biofuels from algae, especially from coal plant emissions and exhaust gases. |
| Montana BioEnergy Center of Excellence |
Havre, MT |
MSU-Northern |
$3,728,209 |
MSU-Northern is seeking federal funding to support the expansion of laboratory capabilities through additional staff and equipment necessary to establish the Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center as a Regional Bio-Energy Center of Excellence. This Center will be a focal point for research, product development and education/training in support of developing the bio-energy industry in Montana. By supporting the Center with a federal appropriation, Northern will be able to grow and accept larger research and development projects that require additional expertise and equipment. The Center will become self-sufficient by generating income from research and testing services after its initial start-up. |
| Montana Green: A Renewable Resources Energy Center |
Billings |
MSU - Billings |
$300,000 |
Using applications from state-of-the-art technologies as well as expertise gathered from wind power, biodiesel and renewable resources, MSU Billings will provide a hub of knowledge that civic leaders, policymakers, business, industry and others can use to better understand the potential of renewable resource energy. The proposed project will use energy-related applied research, testing and data collection in the region to help businesses, industry and civic leaders make better informed decisions. A data repository and analysis team will help in energy development activities, environmental studies and community informational systems. It will also benefit Montana by coordinating data resources and information to support regional business and industries. |
| Montana ICTL Demonstration Project |
Billings, MT |
Crow Tribe |
$2,600,000 |
The Montana ICTL demonstration project will develop a new highly efficient low-cost technology to convert coal to a mixture of gasoline, jet and diesel fuels wherein the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and combustion of the fuel supplied from the ICTL technology would, on an ongoing basis, be less than or equal to such emissions from the equivalent conventional fuel produced from conventional petroleum sources. Phase 1 of this project includes a establishment of a pilot facility at the Energy and Environmental Research Center in North Dakota, with scholarships and internships for Crow Students, and opening of an engineering planning office in Billings, Montana. When complete, this project will include an ICTL Demonstration plant in the Billings region proximate to coal mining and refining infrastructure. |
| Rocky Boy's North Central Montana Regional Water System |
Havre, MT |
North Central Montana Regional Water System |
$42,724,058 |
Public Law Number 107-331 authorized the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority’s drinking water project. Ultimately, the project will deliver water to roughly 30,000 Montanans living in a large, roughly rectangular region of Montana that is about 150 miles east to west and 70 miles north to south. Part of the Project includes providing infrastructure to pipe water to the Rocky Boy's Reservation -- outlined in the Chippewa Cree Tribe's water settlement with the federal government. Of the 23 communities that make up the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority, currently seven are under DEQ violations because their drinking water is unsafe for consumption; these include the Town of Kevin, Brady, Devon, Riverview Colony, South Chester, Hill County and North Havre. All but Hill County are currently under “boil” mandates. |
| Rural Montana, MT |
Statewide |
Cities, Towns, and Local Water and Sewer Districts |
$10,000,000 |
Funding for this project will address critical water and wastewater infrastructure needs at the local level. Proposed projects to receive funding under this project include: Broadview Water Improvements, Lewistown Wastewater System Improvements, County Water District of Billings Heights Water Improvements, North Baker Sewer Project, Fort Smith Water and Sewer District Water Improvements, Winifred Wastewater Improvements, Manhattan Water Project, White Sulphur Springs Water Project, Belt Water Tank Replacement, Cut Bank Water System Improvements, Shelby Well Field Expansion Project, Upper/Lower River Road Water and Sewer District, East Helena Sewer Separation, Polson Storm Water Treatment, Essex Water Improvements, Eureka Water and Wastewater Systems Improvements, Bigfork Storm Water Treatment, City of Butte Drinking Water System Upgrades, Columbia Falls Wastewater System Upgrades, Philipsburg Wastewater Improvements, Victor Wastewater Treatment Improvements. |
| St. Mary Project |
Glacier County, MT |
St. Mary Rehabilitation Working Group |
$4,985,000 |
This project initiates the rehabilitation and construction of the St. Mary Diversion & Conveyance Works in Glacier County MT, identified in Section 5103 of the 2007 Water Resources Development Act (P.L. 110-114). Funding will be used for project planning and coordination, plan formulation, studies and data collection in support of NEPA, engineering design, emergency response planning, facilitate participation of the Blackfeet Tribe as required by §5103, and determination of existing and required right-of-way. The project is critical to the economy of north-central Montana and to the management of water in the St. Mary and Milk rivers under Article VI of the Boundary Waters Treaty (1909). In addition, the project is integral to settlement of federal reserved water rights with the Blackfeet Tribe and the Ft. Belknap Indian Community in Montana. |
| WETO Contract |
Butte, MT |
Western Environmental Technology Office |
$6,500,000 |
DOE-EM manages, through the Western Environmental Technology Office (WETO), an aggressive national program requiring applied research, engineering, development, demonstration, deployment, testing, evaluation, and DOE site waste cleanup support. This program develops high-payoff innovative technologies and methods to clean up the inventory of DOE nuclear component manufacturing sites faster, safer, and cheaper than is possible with current baseline environmental cleanup technologies. WETO programs are designed to provide new, innovative, and more effective technologies for transfer to users through progressive development. The WETO program addresses the most pressing environmental restoration and waste management problems at DOE, and allows DOE-EM to provide the framework for Complex wide cooperation and leveraging of resources on common problems. |
| Wind Turbine Development |
Bozeman, MT |
Montana State University |
$1,000,000 |
The U.S. Department of Energy works to strengthen the United States' energy security, environmental quality and economic vitality in public-private partnerships. It supports this goal through enhancing energy efficiency and productivity; bringing clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace; and making a difference in the everyday lives of Americans by enhancing their energy choices and their quality of life. This project addresses those issues through (a) research on durability and damage tolerance of wind turbine blades, (b) efforts to promote commercialization and manufacturing, with attention to cost reductions, and (c) site development activities. The wind turbine blade materials and manufacturing studies will help develop cost-effective wind turbine electrical power generation. |
| Yellowstone River Corridor Comprehensive Study |
Park, Sweetgrass, Stillwater, Carbon, Yellowstone, Treasure, Rosebud, Custer, Prairie, Dawson, and Richland Counties, MT |
The Nature Conservancy |
$750,000 |
The Yellowstone River corridor study observes and calculates hydrologic, biological and socioeconomic impacts of human management over the last century on this last major free-flowing river in the lower forty-eight states. The study is cost-shared – between the Corps of Engineers and the local Sponsor, the Yellowstone River Conservation District Council – on a 75:25 basis. The study, formally beginning in 2004, entails gathering baseline photogrammetric and topographic information for use in hydraulic/hydrologic/geomorphologic, biological and social and economic studies to prepare a final cumulative effects analysis. The project is and will be developing tools to be used in planning management of the river corridor and it will culminate in a set of best management practices to minimize management impacts to the river corridor environment. |
